Bournemouth's Rhoys Wiggins has been forced to announce a premature retirement from professional football due to a persistent injury problem.

The defender suffered a serious knee injury while on loan at Birmingham City in October 2016 and has never managed to fully recover, although he underwent a series of operations on the troubled knee.

"This isn't something I ever thought I would have to write at the age of 30, but due to the injury I sustained in October 2016 I am unfortunately not able to continue with the job I love to do,", the 30-year-old wrote in an open letter to Bournemouth fans on the club's website.

"I have been battling for the last two years, doing everything possible to get back out there, but my knee just won't allow me to do so."