LEWIS Haldane says that he’d be satisfied if he could kick a ball in anger just one more time after having to retire from the professional game.

As revealed in last week’s Wiltshire Times, the 27-year-old, from Trowbridge, was forced to call it a day after being left with irreparable ankle cartilage damage from the double leg break he suffered while playing for League Two Port Vale against Tranmere Rovers in August last year.

Haldane is currently plotting his next step after football but says that he would jump at the chance to ply his trade at non-league level one day.

“I actually came back to training four months after breaking my leg but I ended up needing two or three operations and even after that, I was always running with pain in my ankle,” Haldane said.

“I saw so many different specialists but was told that the pain would always be there and I didn’t want to end up in a wheelchair one day – I had no choice but to retire.

“But all I want to do is play and, if I rest for six months, you never know what could happen.

“I’d love to play again at any level whatsoever in non-league.

“All I want to do is put the shirt on and kick a ball about with the lads, so even if that only happens one more time, I’d be happy.”

A new full-time career is now on Haldane’s mind and, after first joining Port Vale on loan in 2009, the Trowbridge ace says that he would love to move back to Wiltshire if was practical for himself, fiancée Michelle and one-year-old daughter Indiana.

He said: “I haven’t had one of those careers where I’m going to be set for life – I’m going to have to find a job as soon as possible.

“I used to coach kids at Trowbridge when I was at Bristol Rovers and I’d love to do something like that in the future.

“I’m going to try and do my coaching badges and maybe I could do something with schools.

“I used to live in Chippenham and I’d love to move back down somewhere near there to see all my friends and family again.

“My fiancée is from up north though and I’ve got to do what’s best for my little girl too.”