Blues legend Paul Lake is to leave Manchester City.
The former midfielder, a Maine Road terrace hero, is to quit his role as ambassador for the club's community programme to take up a new post with the Premier League.
In a statement released on Monday morning 44-year-old Lake, who was billed as a future England captain until a knee injury cruelly ended his career, broke the news.
It read: “Just thought I’d let you know that I’m parting company with Manchester City FC and am leaving my position as Ambassador for City in the Community. After a great deal of thought I have decided to take up the role of Club Support Manager with the Premier League, which will allow me the opportunity to work at the heart of football and will involve me liaising closely with a number of club academies in the north west.
“It has been a pleasure to have been part of such a dynamic workforce at MCFC, and I would like to wish my colleagues all the best for an exciting future. A very special mention also goes to the many City fans and supporters clubs both home and abroad; I've met some amazing people over the past few years and will treasure some very happy memories.”
Lake, from Denton, made 110 league appearances for his boyhood, scoring seven times.
He burst onto the scene in 1987 as part of a golden generation of Blues academy stars and was soon installed as captain.
After appearing for England Under 21s and England B then national team manager Bobby Robson remarked that he would soon be wearing the captain's armband for his country.
But disaster struck in 1990 when a seemingly innocuous challenge triggered a series of events that put him out of the game for two years.
Despite attempting several comebacks he was forced to hang up his boots in 1996 at the age of just 27.
Spells as a physio at Altrincham, Burnley, Oldham Athletic, Macclesfield Town and Bolton Wanderers followed before he ran his own practice.
Lake was named ambassador for CITC in 2010 and is a member of the Blues Hall of Fame.
