Lampard talks leaving Chelsea and his regret at how it happened.

After playing down reports of player power at Stamford Bridge, Frank Lampard talks about leaving Chelsea after thirteen years at the club and the one regret he has about going.

Watching the emotion from Ashley Cole as the players performed their lap of honour with the fans at the final game of the season, it was clear for Cole that would be the last time we would see him at Chelsea. For John Terry and Frank Lampard it seemed to be very different as they looked to have their emotions in-check, giving a sign that they weren't saying goodbye to the fans also.

However, as we have seen, John Terry was rewarded with a new one-year contract during the summer but for Lampard the decision was made to allow him to leave.

Lampard was asked in this recent interview of the situation surrounding his departure and if he has any regrets about leaving. He responded by saying:

"I didn't want to do the big parade - 'Thanks a lot and goodbye everyone' - because that would have looked a bit foolish if it had gone the other way and I'd stayed. I ended up stuck in the middle. So I just did the usual lap and a wave because we knew Ash [Cole] was leaving, we had a bit of a moment with him.

I would have obviously stayed if Chelsea had offered me another year. There was no reason for me to leave. Yes, I wanted to play a bit more regularly but I’m not stupid. If Chelsea had given me a new contract it would have been mad not to take it at the time.

I also felt like I didn't want to be a player who faded away – with that being the last memory people had of me, So maybe it was the right time. Maybe it was right that the club took it out of my hands.

There are not a lot of things I regret in my Chelsea career but not being able to say my goodbyes properly to all of the Chelsea fans is certainly one. Thirteen years is a long time."

I think looking at where we are now and the squad Jose Mourinho has put together, it was the right time for Lampard to leave as no one wants to see him left on the bench or even sitting in the stands.

Football moves on and players will always come and go. On the vary rare occasion you see a player spend the majority of his career at the one club and that's very, very special in this day and age.

Frank Lampard is, in my eyes, the greatest player of our history and a true legend of this club. To score the goals he has, for the important moments he gave us and for the the role he played in the most successful era of our clubs history, he should be given HUGE respect by the Chelsea supporters all over the world.

I sincerely hope that an agreement or arrangement can be made with the club for Lampard to be given a proper send off and the chance to say goodbye and thanks to all of us.

I am sure Lampard will end up back at Chelsea in some capacity when he decides to hang up his boots. However it's clear to everyone that it just wasn't to be as a player anymore.