Scholes explains decision

PAUL Scholes has said he didn’t feel he could prolong his career by ending it at the club he supports.

The former Manchester United midfield maestro (36) spoke in the past of the possibility of turning out for Athletic at Boundary Park in the twilight years of his footballing life.

But the Grasscroft-based star — who cites his football heroes as Andy Ritchie and Frank Bunn — decided against making the drop from the Barclays Premier League to npower League One.

“If Oldham would have been a possibility and I still felt great physically then I probably would have played on,” Scholes said.

“The decision I made to retire was just the way I was feeling.

“If I couldn't go to another club and play well and contribute to another team then I didn’t see the point in doing that,” he added.

Scholes, who attends matches at Boundary Park as a fan, is taking up a coaching role at Old Trafford.

He made the last of his 676 appearances for United as a substitute in the 3-1 Champions League final defeat to Barcelona at Wembley.