TEARFUL Gordon Watson packed his bags and waved goodbye to Hartlepool United on Saturday.

The striker the fans adore admitted Saturday's title-decider at Rushden was his last for the club he joined in September 2001 after fearing his career was over.

And he then vowed to return to Victoria Park in the future, not to haunt his old teammates in Division Two, but as manager.

Watson's contract expires this summer and he is now seeking a new club, closer to his Southampton home.

He admits to already receiving a couple of offers from unnamed clubs and didn't rule out the possibility of a return to Sheffield Wednesday and a reunion with Chris Turner.

"Yeah, that's it for me,'' he cried. "I'm going.

"I want to be closer to home - saying goodbye to the supporters is one of the hardest things for me.

"They mean more than anything to me, more than anything else and anywhere else I've ever played.

"But the good thing is I can always come back to the club. Hartlepool for me next season just isn't right.

"What happens now will come to me in the next few weeks.

"There's been a few offers already and I've not made up my mind yet, but the main thing is that I won't be at Hartlepool next season.

"I really don't know where I'll be playing, all I can do now is get fit.

"I've done my hamstring and that will take me six weeks and then it will be into pre-season.''

His final act was to throw his shirt into the crowd on Saturday and he won't be on the open top bus tour this afternoon.

Watson leaves the club as one of its all-time favourites, enjoying adulation only the likes of Brian Honour and Joe Allon have had in recent years.

But there are others in this promotion-winning team who join him in the all-time XI.

"I've played for other clubs, but the warmth I've had from these supporters is like nothing else,'' he admitted.

"I feel more passionate about them than any other club.

"I've not been offered a contract by the club, which I feel absolutely stinks, but I'm not even going to get involved in that now.

"I know my contract goes on until June 30 or something, but they have got to be having a laugh with me, haven't they?

"There's some people here I couldn't care less about now, but the fans - they are No 1 for me.

"It's not a case of not getting on with the manager like some people think, but he's not come to me about his plans or anything like that.

"But I'm going now and I may come back at a later date.

"I want to be a manager when I'm older and I would definitely like to be back here.

"I've got a great start haven't I? I've got the fans on my side.''

Watson moved to Pool in September 2001 to link up with Turner again after the pair were teammates at Hillsborough.

A broken leg in 1997 could have been the end, but after four years out he was offered a lifeline.

He netted 23 times in 46 League starts, but this season has been a personal disaster after breaking his leg in September and only making few appearances as he struggled to recover from injury with the season drawing to a close.

"I owe the club a lot,'' he admitted.

"I don't really owe Chris as much, I did a job which he asked me to do and I did him a favour by doing that job, that helped him to go on and do what he wants to do in the game.

"What has happened to me since than has been so scary, it has been unbelievable.'