He's seen as a man of steel in the Griffin Park stands – the epitome of a no nonsense footballer – but Alan McCormack admits even he was overcome with emotion yesterday.

McCormack brought the curtain down on his Brentford career with a half hour cameo in the 3-1 defeat to Blackburn, his 104th appearance over four memorable years with the Bees.

A player who was seen as never giving anything but his all for the cause had his name sung before, during and after the game, and was given a special ovation during the end of season lap of honour.

He said: “It was a pretty emotional day to be fair, I didn't really see it coming. I thought I would be focused and relaxed about it all, but when the home fans sung my name it got to me a bit.

“That's the relationship I've got with them. It won't be any more, but hopefully I will come back one day and give something to the club in a managerial or coaching capacity.

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“If you take the injuries away, I look back at my time here as great times. The promotion year was special, and the reception today got me.

“I knew there would be a bit of a spotlight on me, but to get the reception I did was phenomenal, so that was another great memory.”

Pulling the pints behind the bar in a packed Lord Nelson after Brentford clinched promotion to the Championship three years ago is one particular memory McCormack holds dear.

He said: “That's the connection the club has with the fans here. We all went back to Nelson that night, all the players went in and I think the whole of Griffin Park was in there.

“We mingled, we sang, we drank and we had a great time that night. I can't see myself doing the same tonight – I will have a glass of wine, sit back and reflect.”

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If McCormack does realise his dream of returning to Brentford in an off-the-pitch role, he's leaning more towards coaching than management and admits the current trend towards head coaches appeals.

He said: “I'm not too bothered about either one (coach or manager), but the modern game is going towards the coaching side of things, and managers have to deal with so much more off the pitch.

“I think a lot of clubs are trying to take those pressures away from the manager now and head coaches get to focus purely on what's happening on the training pitch.

“Our gaffer is a head coach and there's no doubt he's the main man. He still has a say over which players come in but a lot of the research is done for him, which takes a lot of pressure off him.

“I've always had the utmost respect for each manager I have played for, there's never been one I have not liked or not got on with, regardless of if I've been playing or not playing.

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“It's always difficult to deal with 22-23 players, so if I've got dropped I've always respected it. Of course I'll be angry and upset about it, but I'll just work harder to get back into the team.”

At the age of 33, McCormack isn't ready to hang up his boots just yet though, and hopes to still have a good few years playing in him first.

He even pulled 'an Akinfenwa' (the former AFC Wimbledon player who asked clubs to WhatsApp him live on TV after scoring the winner in the play-off final knowing he was about to be released).

He said: “I don't know what the future holds. I'm unemployed now, so if anyone's out there listening, give me a ring – I'll do an Akinfenwa job!

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“But seriously, there's always interest out there when players get released, and my agent is out there doing well. We've got a few things in the pipeline. I also get my A License in a couple of weeks, so that will help with getting good coaching roles too.

“I still feel good but just keep picking up stupid little niggling injuries, I just need to work in the summer on building up my strength again.

“Working up fitness is really hard when you're training with lads who are match fit. I'm keeping up with them, but sometimes I need to rest the body longer than the other boys.

“I kind of knew (he was getting released) because of the injuries this year and I kept getting setbacks, perhaps from coming back too early.

“There's numerous things why I kept breaking down, but the club need players in the squad who can be called upon every week, so it's been disappointing I've not been able to help the boys out every week.

“They've gone down the route of bringing in talented young players with the scope of developing them into even better players, so I've got every respect for the club for what they have done for me and there's no hard feelings over the decision."

But just how far can those talented youngsters taking over the mantle from McCormack go? According to the man himself, right into the top flight – if they stay together as a team.

He added: “It's a very talented squad. They have got to keep very single player and add that bit of quality, one or two more, like every club does in the summer.

“But if they can keep the core, the mentality and the philosophy, this club can and will be competing for top six, if not top two, in the next two or three years.”