TONY CARSS will leave Town at the end of the season determined to prove there's more success to be had from his creative left boot.

The 30-year-old is far from ready to give up on a Football League career which has already taken in eight clubs and delivered joyous promotion-winning glory.

Carss will long be remembered by Town fans for his part in the Millennium Stadium penalty shoot-out two years ago when he helped fire Peter Jackson's side to victory against Mansfield.

He may well be talked about even longer for the incredible volley he scored against Torquay in October 2003, still believed by many to be the greatest goal ever scored at the Galpharm Stadium.

The Alnwick-born midfielder - who signed for Town when they were in administration and had nothing more than a letter of intent for security - wants more of those moments.

And, believe me, he's confident and ambitious enough to deliver.

The only question marks, of course, are his injury problems and his quest to recover from the knee problem which has ruled him out since December and effectively ruined his chances of winning a new Town contract.

"I've met a lot of good people here, there are fine young players and experienced ones as well and, hopefully, we will win another promotion this season," said Carss, who signed from Oldham, where he still lives.

"Whichever club you go to you make friends and enjoy your work, but it's the nature of football that you move on.

"Everyone does at some point. People just don't stay at clubs for ever and I suppose I'm more experienced at this than most!

"It is disappointing to be being let go when I'm still injured and, at this point, it is a concern, but I will keep in touch with a lot of the lads and I will always have a keen eye on how they are doing."

Carss will continue rehabilitation work under club physio Lee Martin - "he has been fantastic with me" - and hopes to be following Town's progress in the Championship next season.

As for his own next direction, it's fitness first and contracts later.

"I think I've got to convince someone that I'm fit rather than anything else," he explained.

"Luckily a lot of people know what I'm about and know what I can do when I'm fit and they value that.

"Fitness is never really a problem with me, it's more the pain and the injury niggles.

"If I can get over the injury, which I will do, and get rid of the pain then I'll get fully fit pretty quickly.

"After that, I've got to stay fit and play a number of games. I'm just turned 30 and, hopefully, I will get over this injury and I will be due a spell without one.

"I think I've still got a lot of good football in me, but that's for me to prove."

Carss, who began his career at Blackburn Rovers in their Premiership glory years, has no intention of dropping to non-League level even though he accepts there's huge competition for contracts these days.

"If I get over the injury and stay fit, getting a League club won't be a problem for me," he said.

"I've never doubted myself and, with my ambition and attitude, I know I will always give myself a chance.

"I know what I can do when I'm fit and I can do more than a job for most teams in this League.

"Lee is going to help me with my fitness and it's just the period of time it will take that we don't know.

"It has been frustrating because, when I first picked up this injury we hoped it would be something and nothing and keep me out a month, whereas it's kept me out for the remainder of the season and it's an ongoing thing.

"Now, as I've said, my priority is to get back my fitness and hopefully the rest will take care of itself. I've got a few irons in the fire."

Carss will never regret his time at Town, playing 89 times in all competitions. He just wishes the last season and a half had proved more fruitful.

"The first year and a half here was great," he said. "I was playing a lot, the promotion at the Millennium Stadium was one of the highlights of my career and also the goal against Torquay, which people still keep reminding me about.

"The last 18 months, with being off and on with injuries, has been disappointing, but I've met a lot of good people and I still think we've got a great chance of promotion.

"Everyone is disappointed about the last couple of months because, if we'd put a run together, we would have run away with possibly the championship and, if not, second place for automatic.

"What we have to do now is look to work hard over the next couple of weeks and try to hit the first play-off game flying. If we can get off to a good start then hopefully it will see us through to the final and we can hit top form at the right time.

"As we know with the play-offs, it can go all the way to the last kick - but there's no better way to go up than getting to the Millennium Stadium and winning.

"It will help us if we get there that a lot of the lads have experienced it before - and that great feeling of winning.

"We won't want to go there and lose because we know how good it is to go up there in the fireworks and pick up the trophy.

"Personally, I feel if we can get through to the final I would put us as really strong favourites to win and go up. Hopefully that's exactly what will happen."