VETERAN striker Mark Hughes' 22-year playing career could be at an end after he announced today he had been released by Blackburn.

The Wales team boss, in Cardiff preparing for tomorrow's international with Germany, confirmed that Ewood chief Graeme Souness broke the news to him on Thursday, two days before Rovers' final game of the season.

Wrexham-born Hughes, now 38 and preparing himself for the end of a magnificent playing era, said: "At the moment I do not have a playing contract and there is nothing on the table from other clubs."

Multi-millionaire Hughes, who lives in a Cheshire mansion in the Alderley Edge stockbroker belt, would be interested in moving on for one last playing season elsewhere.

But with hundreds of players likely to be out of a job this summer, he admitted: "I'm not hopeful. In the current climate I can't see there being a place for a 38-year-old greying midfielder-cum-striker.

"I can't bring myself to say I have retired because I know there is still more football in me. I don't wake up in the mornings full of aches and pains and I know I can still play.

"Maybe there is something out there for me, but I'm not hopeful."

Hughes has combined playing with the Wales job now for three years, a post that has been tagged part-time.

But he said: "That's what it has been called, but I have frankly been full-time in my own eyes, that is the professional way I have approached it.

"If nothing comes along on the playing front, I suppose people will say that I'm going to be full-time as Wales boss. But it's just labels to me.

"At the moment I would not be interested in a player-managers' job lower down the leagues."

Rovers boss Graeme Souness, who signed Hughes on a free from Everton in October 2001, admitted it was a tough decision to release the Welshman.

"Both myself and the board are very grateful for what Mark has done for this club over the last two years," said Souness.

"He's done everything we asked of him, not just on the playing front but in and around the club as well.

"On a personal note, he's been terrific to work with and I'd just like to wish him well for the future.

"It wasn't an easy decision to let him go but we were looking to free up some wages for new players coming in.

"At the end of the day, we have a budget to work to and that's what football is all about."

Hughes has had a glorious playing career that included two spells at Manchester United and continued with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Southampton, Everton before he ended up at Rovers, who he helped win promotion to the Premiership.

He is one of only two players who have won the Premiership, FA Cup and League Cup with three different clubs.

He's also won the title twice, FA Cup four times, League Cup twice, European Cup Winners' Cup twice and been named PFA player of the year twice.

He played 72 times for Wales and scored 16 goals, and took over in sole control of team affairs in September '99.