WHEN Neil Young releases his retained list next week one name that definitely won’t be on it is Iain Howard’s.

Available for transfer since January, the 25-year-old has long accepted that his chances of remaining at the Exacta Stadium are slim.

That is why he is already looking for a new club. It a decision he has made with great sadness. But Howard can leave with his head held high.

A treble title winner, his goalscoring exploits from midfield and whole-hearted approach means he will go down as a true Blues fans’ favourite. And in his final interview before his exit from Chester FC is made official, Howard tells PAUL WHEELOCK the feeling is mutual

HOW are you feeling about leaving the club after three years?

I feel ready for a new challenge but at the same time I’m so happy to have been part of what’s happened at Chester. I’ve loved every single minute of it but I’ve just grown a bit frustrated of late at not playing enough football.

But I go away with no hard feelings whatsoever. Everyone has been brilliant with me – the players, the staff and particularly the fans. I can’t really put into words how good they’ve been to me.

The last couple of games were really hard and emotional, knowing they would be my last for the club. After the last game of the season at Worcester, I was choking up when I was clapping the fans.

It’s been such a good journey and I’m sad to be leaving.

You must be proud that you are one of only two players – along with George Horan – to have played all three seasons for the club.

Considering the amount of players who have been and gone, it definitely makes me proud.

Even though I’ve not played as much this season, I still feel I can walk away knowing I’ve played my part as I scored quite a lot of goals at the start of the season.

The gaffer chose to go elsewhere and play different players and different formations and hats off to the lads because they’ve performed – I’ve got no qualms about that.

But that’s why I stuck at it in January when I had options to move. I’ve worked hard this last year in the Conference North, I wanted a medal and I thought my performances at the start of the season deserved one.

You – maybe more than most – have had a lot of competition for your place in the team.

There’s been comings and goings and that’s been the case since day one – and that’s because the club was starting from scratch and the gaffer was trying to find the right balance.

It’s been difficult to keep battling against new players coming to try and take your position but it’s something I’ve thrived on. It’s what gets me going – that and playing in front of a good crowd.

I’ve not made any decisions yet but when I move on the chance to play in front of a big crowd is something I want to do again. There’s no hiding place – if you’re not playing well, they’ll tell you.

The thing that sold Chester to me when I was first contemplated joining the club was the fact they had already sold nearly 1,000 season tickets. At that time I was enjoying playing for Ashton, alongside a lot of my friends. I’d had and turned down offers before but when the gaffer mentioned nearly 1,000 season tickets had been sold and when I saw the stadium, it was a no-brainer.

Is that first season – and first title win – your favourite?

Definitely. That last day was a train wreck, it was madness, but it was also a great relief. I’d left a club where I had a lot of friends who I’m still close to now to come to Chester. It wasn’t a gamble but I didn’t know if it was going to work out. So to win the title in that first season was a massive achievement.

You leave having scored 35 goals in 76 starts for the club. What’s your favourite? Does your volley at Stalybridge Celtic take some beating?

That is my personal favourite but I still remember my first ever goal for Chester, it was a volley in a friendly (against Aberystwyth Town). I also remember scoring a brace against Lancaster and one was a nice dink.

I’ve enjoyed scoring goals and I think I could’ve scored more this season if I had the opportunity. It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster, going from scoring a hat-trick one week to being out of the team a couple of weeks later.

You had a great chance to score in your last game for the club against Worcester but hit the post.

I still can’t believe I didn’t! I was a bit rusty and if I’d been a bit more match fit I would have rattled it into the back of the net. I was praying I would as that would have done it for me.

It wasn’t to be and we move on. But the reception I got after the game was out of this world and it’s something I’ll never forget.

Have you got a final message for the fans?

I just want to say thank you. It’s been a pleasure and an honour to play in front of them every week. They’ve given me memories that’ll last for a lifetime.

There will always be a place in my heart for Chester FC, I’ll look out for their results every week and I wish them the very best for the future. It’s been brilliant.