RYAN Lowe left the Gigg Lane door ajar for a possible return as coach after signing off with a match-winning display against Southend United in Sunday's season finale.

It was a fairytale farewell for the 37-year-old striker, who scored twice in the 3-2 victory, including a stoppage-time winner from the spot.

The fans' favourite has chosen not to take up the offer of a new one-year contract at Bury and will decide on the ninth club of his career when he returns from a family holiday.

But after scoring 71 goals in 160 appearances over two spells at Bury, Lowe admitted he had not ruled out returning for a third time when he finally hangs up his boots.

“I've loved every single moment in a Bury shirt, I'll relish my time here,” Lowe said.

“Potentially one day in the future, who knows? When I do hang up my boots I want to continue learning and working hard on my coaching badges, and then if an opportunity arises in the future then maybe you might see me back then.”

After scoring some memorable goals in a Bury shirt, such as the promotion-winner against Chesterfield in 2011 and his 200th career strike against Millwall last month, Lowe will no doubt be welcomed back with open arms by supporters.

In the short term, though, he will continue the search for regular first-team action elsewhere, and he revealed there was no shortage of clubs chasing his signature after scoring eight goals in League One this season.

Former team Crewe Alexandra are one side interested in the veteran's services, but Lowe says he will take time away to think before announcing his plans for the immediate future.

He added: “We'll wait until I'm back off holiday and then whatever I decide, me and the family, it will be out there for everyone to see.

“I just want to play football and I'm going somewhere where I'm potentially going to play.

“I am in discussions with a few clubs and there's one club, potentially, that I will be signing for.”

Lowe netted twice during his final appearance for the Shakers on Saturday – including a stoppage-time winning penalty – but he tried to claim the hat-trick when his early cross was turned over the line by Southend defender Adam Barrett.

Even though the official channels gave the goal to the Shrimpers' centre-back, the striker managed to bag himself the match ball with a little help from his children and mascots for the day, Daisy and Alfie.

“As a striker you'll claim it,” Lowe said. “I've got the ball, my kids have given it to me so I'll accept that, I'll take it off them and some people will question it but who cares? I'll look at it as a cross-shot, I will claim it.

“I know some people haven't given me it but hopefully they will look at it and give it me back.

"I've got the ball, I'll keep the memories and to go on and win 3-2 was just as important as well.

“The second one I've actually tried to put it back across. I tried to bend it around the keeper and I've sort of fluffed my lines a little bit. I think it's caught the keeper off a little bit as well.

“I was watching Jamie Vardy yesterday and he ballooned his penalty. I was thinking shall I smash it, shall I side-foot it, shall I place it and I just kept my composure and rolled it into the net.”