Manager Ian Hendon, preparing for the prestigious pre-season friendly against Arsenal this week, dropped himself from the squad list for the coming season today and announced his retirement as a player after over 500 games in the past 20 years.

The 37-year-old manager, who played 139 games for the Bees and was the inspirational captain of the side that regained Football League status by winning the Conference championship in style, said: "It's a wrench and of course I am disappointed. Playing football has been my life since I was a boy"

His decision was made on medical advice after a year of attempted rehabilitation after an ankle operation following a training ground tackle by a former player.

"When the time is right to go you have to accept that the time is right" he said. "At least I'll still have an outdoors role with the players every day, training and keeping fit".

Hendon, number 20 on last season's squad list although he did not play, signed a two year contract as manager in May.

He won an FA Youth Cup winners medal when he was a Tottenham Hotspur player in 1990 and won seven caps for the England U21 side in 1992-93.

Former Barnet manager Peter Shreeves was his mentor - he was at Spurs with him and later signed him for Sheffield Wednesday and brought him to Underhill, originally on loan. Hendon's other clubs: Leyton Orient, Notts County and Northampton Town.

Hendon, who was caretaker manager alongside Danny Maddix briefly when Martin Allen unexpectedly quit Barnet in 2004, was appointed assistant to Paul Fairclough in 2006.


Dennis Signy