Former Oxford United star Dean Windass has admited he attempted suicide earlier this month after battling with alcohol and depression following his retirement two years ago.

The 42-year-old striker, who is still United’s club record signing having joined from Aberdeen in July 1998 for £475,000, told The People: “I have cried every day for two years.

“I took an overdose and, when that didn’t work, I tried to hang myself.”

Despite earning more than £500,000 a year at the height of his fame, Windass, who scored the goal that fired his home town club Hull into the top flight in 2008, said most of his money was now gone.

His 18-year marriage has broken up and, with little income and grieving for his recently deceased father John, he decided to take his own life.

“People outside football think we have it all,” he said. “But I was in a hole that I honestly didn’t know how to get out of.

“Just over a week ago, I hit rock bottom and decided to end it all.

“I need to sort myself out which is why I’m speaking out now. It’s part of me getting better – part of the healing process.

“People have this image of me as this big strong man who can take anything life throws at him. But I’m not ashamed to say I wanted to end it after a string of setbacks.

“I knew I’d been a fool, but I couldn’t shake off the depression at feeling what a failure I’d become.”

Windass scored 15 goals in 33 league games for Oxford, but was unable to prevent the U’s from being relegated to Division 2 at the end of the 1998-99 season.

He was transferred to Bradford City in March 1999 for an initial fee of £950,000, which rose to £1m as the Bantams were promoted from Division 1.