To all the fans who are upset or disappointed by today' announcement, I'm sorry that you feel that way. I hope in time you will realise and accept that David Beckham had to make a difficult choice under a difficult set of circumstances and you will give him your support and wish him well.

David Beckham's England career had been cut short and he had been cast into the international wilderness. That was not his decision, or of his making or in any way deserved. However, McClaren had resisted every call and petition for him to be re-included in the squad and realistically it was impossible to know if there was any real hope of playing for England again. There was certainly not sufficiently encouraging signs or any evidence to suggest that David Beckham should have planned his future around an England recall. To do so would have been to live in denial and take a risk, that in all likelihood would have just ended in frustration and disappointment. I know it's sad and I know some of you are struggling to accept reality but in your heart of hearts you know that David Beckham had been all but retired against his will by McClaren. Did you really want him to persist and suffer the continued disappointment of being unfairly over-looked? Doesn't he have the right under the circumstances to choose a new adventure?

David Beckham had always said he would never return to the English Premiership League. That he would not play for any premiership side other than the one he is a life-time supporter of. David Beckham kept his word.

Remaining at Real Madrid was no longer an option. Capello had made it clear that David Beckham would never be a first team regular and that he would have to accept a substantial reduction in playing time. I will never fully understand why Capello was so fixedly set against David Beckham from the outset, he came into this season having been one of Madrid's two best players in the preceding one. Nevertheless Capello did not consider him to be central to his plans.

So Becks only had limited choices and we do not know for certain what offers were made or any of the particulars. It was always clear from David Beckham's interviews that he had played with the only two clubs he really wanted to play for in Europe. He has chosen to go in a whole new direction rather than take what in his mind would have been a backward step within european football. You may not agree with him but at the very least you must credit him with having been honest and consistent.

I congratulate him, I hope things will go well for him in America. I believe that if anyone can popularise "Soccer" Becks is the man! I also want to thank him for everything he has done in his career so far and all the enjoyment he has already given to all his fans! Good luck Becks!