Shaun Goater took a step closer to retirement after finally ending his Reading nightmare yesterday.

After a season he described as ?the worst of my career? the out-of-favour Bermudian striker was bought out of his contract by the Championship club, leaving the former Man City talisman out of work and considering his options.

Goater is adamant that yesterday?s news is not his official retirement, claiming he has another season left and is willing to listen to offers, despite turning down a rash of lower division teams last year and even during this off-season.

?I am going to take a few days to think about this,? said Goater, consigned to the bottom of Steve Coppell?s pecking order last year and left out of the club?s pre-season tour.

?It was hard to think clearly while I was still a Reading player. I was losing motivation because I knew I was working hard in pre-season training with no prospect of actually playing for the club.

?But now this has all been sorted out, I can think clearly about the best way to go forward, for me and for my family.

?I have taken a lot of advice from a lot of people, including Kyle Lightbourne (national team coach) who has been through this recently as well as people like Cyrille Regis.

?I have time on my side and it is just a case of seeing what comes up. I am currently out of work and looking for a club ? I haven?t been in this position since I was 17.?

Director of football at the club, Nicky Hammond, had been hinting that the Royals were looking to buy out the striker from the last year of his contract as early as last March but finally confirmed the deal yesterday before adding: ?We wish Shaun and his family the best of luck for the future.?

Goater, who is still completing his coaching qualifications, ruled out any move to play in the US ? although it is understood he has had offers ? instead confirming he will stay in the UK until next summer, whether he can find a club or not.

?I have to think about my family and they are a big part of what happens next,? continued Goater, sounding relieved after months of frustration spent at a club where he is clearly not wanted and hasn?t been since almost as soon as Coppell arrived in late 2003.

?It isn?t just about football anymore, I have been playing for long enough that my family has to be at the top of my list of priorities. Whatever happens, we are going to remain in the UK for a year.

?But I would like to get a club and if the right offer comes along I will take it.

?It has to be something challenging, I feel I have another year left, something else to offer, but I am not just going to play for the sake of it.

?Any move would have to be something that I can get my teeth into, something that I am going to enjoy like I did at the beginning of my career.?

The 35-year-old appears desperate to finish his career on the up and put behind him the frustrations of his time at Reading, a career move that went downhill almost as soon as Alan Pardew, the man who signed him, left the club to be replaced by Coppell.

From day one, it was clear that Coppell didn?t rate Goater, who moved to Reading from City to guarantee first-team football, and despite the Bermudian finishing top scorer with 13 goals, he was never guaranteed a place in the starting line-up ? often being relegated to the bench despite scoring in the previous game.

Last year, however, saw a steep decline in Goater?s standing at the Madejski Stadium.

Left out of the pre-season games, the striker began the season as the third choice behind Nicky Forster and Dave Kitson, playing only a handful of minutes at the end of games from the bench.

His only starts came in the cup, where he scored his only goal against Oxford United, and when players were injured. A calf injury picked up against Leeds then ruled out him out for six weeks when it looked like a prolonged spell in the team was a possibility, compounding his frustrations.

Then the news broke that Goater was one appearance away from Reading have to pay City ?50,000 as part of his transfer deal and Reading made it clear his days at the club were effectively over.

A seven-game loan spell at Coventry didn?t yield a long-term move and then it was just a matter of time before Reading and Goater came to an agreement.

?In a way I am glad it is all over,? continued Goater, who has remained professional and positive throughout what those close to him have said has been a harrowing experience for the footballing legend who still commands standing ovations at Man City games.

?When you are used to playing every week and then you find yourself in a position where there is nothing you can do to get into the team it gets frustrating.

?It is hard knowing that the gaffer is not going to play you however well you play or train. I don?t regret going to Reading and I?d like to think I still did my bit for the team when I got a chance.

?I feel I still have some football left in me and if the right challenge comes along then I will have a look at it.?

The team, who narrowly missed out on the play-offs last year and are bringing in a number of new faces for the current campaign, return from their pre-season trip to Sweden today and Goater said he was planning to go and say his goodbyes.

?Whatever has happened with me and Reading on the field, I have made some good friends there,? Goater added.

?I don?t just want to walk away, so I am going up there to say goodbye to a few people and I wish them and the club well for the coming season.?