FORMER England Under 19 captain Michael Gough has shocked Durham by telling them he does not wish to play first-class cricket next season.

The 23-year-old opening batsman says he has stopped enjoying the game and wants to play football and club cricket with his home club, Hartlepool.

He is now going to do a Diploma in Sports Massage Therapy and Personal Training at York

Gough said: "I have not enjoyed the game for about two years, possibly three. It has been a weird time for me really.

"I can't put my finger on why. I haven't got anything in mind either.

"It has been a big step for me to take. I still have a year on my contract and I could have just seen it through and picked up my pay.

"But I am not that type of person and if I know in myself that I'm not worth my pay then I'd rather quit.

"I am still young and I just felt that I would take time out to try to get my passion back for the sport."

Gough has been earmarked for big things since he made 62 on his first-class debut against Essex at Riverside in 1998 and followed up with a century against Cambridge University.

But living up to expectations has been a problem and it was not until last August that he made his maiden championship hundred against Essex at Colchester.

Having played only two championship matches before August, he finished last season on a high with 616 runs at an average of 51.33, only to struggle from the start this year.

In the first 15 minutes of the season he had the misfortune to face some superb bowling by Somerset's Richard Johnson at Taunton, repeatedly playing and missing before edging to slip.

It set a pattern against anything moving away which he found hard to break, and although at times he produced half an hour's strokeplay of the highest quality he averaged only 23.77 in 22 championship innings.

He was left out for the last four games, although he could have played at Northampton when he was on stand-by for Nicky Peng, who was ruled out by illness. But Gough withdrew with a groin injury.

"It's very disappointing," said coach Martyn Moxon. "Apart from being a quality batsman, we wanted Michael to develop his off-spin bowling because he turns the ball. It would always he a useful option to have him as a second spinner, but he didn't bowl much this season because of a back problem.

"We understand he's going to work in his father's sports shop and we will be retaining his registration in case he changes his mind."

Gough added: "I had a great chat with David Harker, the chief executive, and Martyn Moxon last week and they were fine.

"They were disappointed but they were happy that I had taken the right step for me. The last thing they wanted was for me to play and not get the enjoyment.

"They have told me if I get the enjoyment back that I might still have a place at the club, but they can't guarantee it.

"Durham have been fantastic through everything. It's very sad for me to leave them but my six years there have been incredible. If I do come back into first-class cricket there's only one club I would play for and that's Durham."

Moxon is looking for four players to fill the gaps left by Gough and the six released, and he is believed to be speaking to Ryan Sidebottom.

He will face competition for the left-arm seamer but has the advantage of having worked with him at Yorkshire.

Other counties are also interested in West Indian Gareth Breese, but Durham are favourites to land the off-spinning all-rounder because he is being advised by former Eppleton professional Jimmy Adams.

Durham have also not ruled out listening to Melvyn Betts should he be interested in a return following his release by Warwickshire.

Gough, who turned down the chance to sign for Premiership giants Arsenal at the age of 14, will now be playing football over the winter.

Last night he made his debut for Horden CW in the Albany Northern League against Tow Law.

The centre-back, who used to play as a striker, is also playing for Lion Hillcarter in the Hartlepool Sunday League. "I really did miss my football," said Gough. "I couldn't play competitively really in case I picked up injuries.