PETER Beardsley's search for first team football goes on.

The former England star, who will be 38 next month, is being linked with a move to his first club Carlisle after his surprise release by Fulham.

Beardo turned a three month loan into what was thought to be a permanent move to the Cottagers when he cut his ties with Wanderers last month.

He says he is leaving London to spend more time with his family, who are still based in Newcastle, but Fulham boss Kevin Keegan suggested things might have been different if Beardsley was in the team, explaining: "We both feel there's no point in him being here at 37 and just training and sitting on the bench."

Beardsley left his beloved Newcastle in August 1997 when he signed for Wanderers in a £500,000 deal after accepting he wasn't going to get first team football under Kenny Dalglish.

And things turned sour at the Reebok when he failed to live up to expectations and lost his place in the side. He made only 21 Bolton appearances, spending half of his 15-month association with the club out on loan.

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