TRANMERE Rovers' all-time record goalscorer, Ian Muir, is to hang up his boots from the professional game and turn semi-pro after completing a successful two year spell playing in Hong Kong.

But he has still not ruled out plans for bidding a belated farewell to Prenton Park fans.

Muir, now 35, is still held in great adulation by Tranmere fans; his place in club history as the club's record goalscorer with 180 goals in 10 years is guaranteed.

Former manager John King sold him at the start of the 1995-96 season to Birmingham City for £100,000 - a move which was to turn sour on the prolific striker. In his first season in Hong Kong, Muir fired 14 goals for Tsingtao and played for a Hong Kong Select XI against Yugoslavia and Switzerland, scoring in a 4-1 defeat.

Speaking exclusively to Globe Sport, he told me: "I have enjoyed my career and am looking to play at a semi-professional level unless anybody comes in for me . . . I want to finally sort out my testimonial and say a proper goodbye to the Tranmere supporters, who were great to me."

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