Former Dagenham & Redbridge skipper Mark Arber (Dave Simpson/ TGSPhoto)

Former Dagenham & Redbridge skipper Mark Arber talks about his sad departure from the Victoria Road club.

Former Daggers captain Mark Arber still cannot put in to words the feeling of being released by Dagenham & Redbridge.

The 34-year-old made 196 appearances for the club in a four-and-a-half year spell at Victoria Road and had contemplated retirement from football altogether after his release.

And although he has been aware of his contract not being renewed at the club for over a month, it has still been hard for the South African-born central defender to come to terms with.

“Words can’t really put into perspective how I feel now,” he said.

“I am not sure you can put a word on it and I still can’t do that today. When you have been a part of something for so long, although you know it will come to an end you don’t thing or expect it to happen anytime soon.

“It is still that same kind of feeling now, whether it will sink in sometime soon I don’t know, it still feels a little bit weird now.

“It was four and a half years and when you have been in that environment for so long it’s almost like your home.

“Everyone at the club knows you by your first name and you know them by theirs, that’s just the way this club works.

But Arber has opted to extend his 16-year football career which has seem him take in the likes of Barnet, Peterborough United twice and now Dagenham & Redbridge, still feels he has a lot to give the game.

“I have only made the decision myself in the past fortnight to continue playing. I think first and foremost you think what you are going to do next?” he added.

Meanwhile, another player to depart the Daggers is striker Gavin Tomlin, who has signed a one-year-deal at League Two rivals Southend United.

Tomlin only made 38 appearances for John Still’s side and had the final year of his contract cancelled at the club.

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