Dean Leacock has revealed he would have hung up his boots if Notts County had not come calling two years ago.

The Crawley defender was on the verge of quitting football following an unhappy six-month spell at Leyton Orient when ex-Magpies boss Keith Curle offered him a lifeline.

Leacock went on to rediscover his love for the game at Meadow Lane, making 74 appearances for County before being released in the summer and moving to Crawley.

The 30-year-old insists he is enjoying his football as much as ever now but Leacock said: “I came very close to giving it all up a few years ago. I had a really rough time at Orient and my heart just wasn't in it any more so I was seriously considering hanging up my boots.

“I was away from my family and my wife was pregnant so I found it really hard. Part of it was also that I never really wanted to leave Derby as I was there for six years and didn't want it to end.

“I spoke to a few people and they said if I was unhappy then I should do what I felt was right. It was a bad time but I spoke with Keith and he told me I was only 28 and still had a lot to offer.

“Once I got down there it felt like it was the place I needed to be. As soon as I started playing again I rediscovered my love for football so I will always be very grateful for what Keith and everyone at Notts County did for me.

“I'm really enjoying my football again now and the whole episode has made me realise how much I really do love the game. I'm glad I didn't make the decision to give up as I now know I would have regretted it.”

Leacock was a regular in his first season at Meadow Lane and his performances combined with his experience prompted Curle to install him as captain last summer.

Things did not go so well for the former Fulham centre-back the following year, however, as County won just twice in their opening 13 games and Curle was sacked in November.

Leacock lost his place under Curle's replacement Shaun Derry who then showed him the door but the Reds defender insists there are no hard feelings.

“I had a few personal issues going on at the time and I was grateful for the way Shaun took care of it,” added Leacock.

“He and Greg (Abbott, assistant manager) really helped me out. I don't want to really go into it but there were very understanding and I am glad they kept County up and signed new contracts.

“I'm looking forward to going back and seeing people again although the team has changed a lot since I was there. There's probably only two or three players I know but the people behind the scenes are all still there.

“The fans were also very good to me and made me feel welcome so hopefully I will get a good reception, although you never know what to expect in football!”

Something Leacock is not expecting is to launch an international career at the age of 30. The former England Under-20 defender saw central defensive partner Joe Walsh and Reds winger Gwion Edwards get a surprise call-up by Wales this week but says the chances of him following suit are slim.

Leacock is eligible to play for Barbados and was approached about the prospect of playing for the Caribbean island in 2007 but feels that ship has probably sailed.

He added: “I got a call about seven years ago but I was still kind of hoping I might play for England at that stage so it didn't come to anything.

“I am at the age now where it possibly won't happen but if they came calling then I'd sit down and listen.”