When Sunday is all over and done with, the match is finished and I've returned my captain's armband, I think I am just going to walk out the door at Maine Road, get in my car and head home, all the while trying not to look back.

If I don't, I fear the emotion of the occasion might get the better of me.

I never thought I would get attached to a club in this way. At the end of the day it's just a job, you make the move because it's good for your career. You never think you're going to get so close.

But that's what's happened in the five years I have been at City, and leaving will be the hardest thing I have had to do.

Since I made the decision I have had fans come up to me and ask me to change my mind. If you're not careful your heart can rule your head and there were plenty of times during the conversations I have had when I wanted to say 'Yes, I'll stay'. But when I get home and sit alone and think about it, I know I would not be happy being fit and not playing regularly. I would be staying for all the wrong reasons.

What makes me happy is running out, trying to fulfil my expectations, meeting my targets and hopefully satisfying the fans as well. To do that I have to move on.

Being the captain on Sunday in the last-ever game at Maine Road will be a great way to say goodbye.

I cannot put into words how I will feel. It is going to be an emotional rollercoaster. All I know is I will be drained, both physically and mentally.

In one way it will be good to have that adrenaline rush again because it's something I haven't felt for a long time. When I am on the bench I don't get that feeling and that's how I know it's time to move on - I miss that.

The game against Southampton is important for many reasons, not just for me or the fact that City are leaving Maine Road but also in terms of the money the club will get from whichever position they finish in the Premiership.

As players though we don't think about the financial side, all we think about is winning and one thing is for certain - I want to be remembered as the last City captain to get a result at our spiritual home.

As for what happens after that? I don't know. There are bound to be a few clubs interested but it will depend on what City are looking for in terms of a fee and because I am under contract they will have to go through them first.

It would be nice to get something sorted out before the summer, but I think that is unlikely as I don't think any approaches can be made until after the FA Cup final. All I can say is watch this space.

In preparation for the weekend's game I got 90 minutes under my belt for the reserves in our 2-0 win at Newcastle United last night.

However, there were some doubts over whether the game would go ahead. Put simply I have played on better pitches in Bermuda.

We played at the home of the Newcastle Falcons, a rugby union side, and the surface was like a scrambling track! It was abysmal, absolutely shocking!

The gaffer actually gave us the option of playing or asking for the game to be put back. As one of the senior players I was asked my opinion and felt that as we had gone through our warm-up and our minds were geared to play we should play. After all, it was the same for both sides.

Jon Macken and Lee Croft scored our goals against a Newcastle side that was mainly made up of youngsters but did have Titus Bramble and Lomana Tresor LuaLua in it.

Lee will actually be one of the Academy youngsters who will be travelling to Bermuda this summer as part of my Grassroots Soccer Festival. He trains with the first team and is certainly one to watch.

As the door closes behind me, it will open for the likes of Lee and others. They are the future but rather than filling my shoes they will have to fill their own.