Published: Friday, 30th May, 2008 12:00pm

'I am extremely sad to be leaving but i've been left with no choice'

LONG-SERVING striker Glen Harley has hit the net for the last time in a Peebles jersey.

The 36-year-old from Livingston has spent the last 11 seasons at Whitestone Park.

And pulled on the Peebles top around 240 times in a career that has seen him finish almost every season as the club"s top scorer.

But on Friday at Albert Park in Hawick he waved farewell to Peebles.

Glen told the Peeblesshire News: 'I am extremely sad to be leaving but after what has happened this season I"ve been left with no choice.

'There have been many ups and downs since I came to Peebles under Stevie Torrance. There have been good seasons and bad but nothing comes close to this season.

'This is the best Peebles team I"ve played with since I came here and it is very sad that they won"t be able to go on and show what they can do in the Premier League.'

Peebles secured promotion to the East of Scotland Premier League by winning their final three games of the season.

But a lack of backing by the club"s committee led to manager Mark Lamb along with his coaching staff and players stating in January that they would leave the club.

A new first team committee was formed with a management team formed to take over the reigns from next season.

Departing assistant manager Rab Paget wasn"t mixing his words following the final whistle on Friday night. He said: 'Walking away isn"t by choice it is because of a lack of support by the people in Peebles.

'We had a meeting with the committee back in January and we were told that no one was willing to help us. Once we said we indicated would go at the end of the season they all came forward and formed a new committee and management team - a big mistake in my opinion as this was just the start of something good at Peebles over the next few years.

'I"m pleased we got promotion for Mark Lamb, Stuart Robertson and Davie McGinlay and also Davie Graham back in Peebles, and of course for the players.

'I can only say good luck to the people taking over - they"ll need it.'