Martin may register himself to play for Dons next season

He included himself on the list of released players, but Russell Martin has not ruled out a return to the pitch for MK Dons next season.

The manager hung up his boots when he took over at the helm in November, but he remained registered as a player for the remainder of the campaign, though he did not kick another ball.

When Dons announced their 'retained list' on Saturday, Martin's name was on the list of released players at the end of their contracts, though his services will obviously be retained as manager.

But with an expected cap on the number of players clubs can have in their squads next season, Martin admitted there is an outside chance he will need to lace up his boots once again should fixture congestion become an issue for his squad.

He said: "I might have to register myself as a player just in case, for things like the EFL Trophy because we will be working with a reduced squad, which most squads will. And I think there might be a squad cap in terms of size across the EFL as well. So I may have to register myself but that will be the last, last, last resort. But I'm done playing."

On his release, he added: "I thought long and hard about it, but after judging my fitness levels recently, it might be the right decision!"