STEVE Kirby is to leave Gloucestershire at the end of the season after asking to be released from the final two years of his contract.

The club have granted the 32-year-old pace bowler's shock request, which he says was made in order to pursue ambitions to play in the First Division of the LV=County Championship and for England.

Gloucestershire chief executive Tom Richardson said: "We are not going to stand in Steve's way now that he has expressed a wish to continue his career elsewhere.

"He has done very well for on the field over six seasons and has made a big contribution. Off the field he has been equally positive in a variety of areas particularly in coaching and as the chairman of the Young Gladiators.

"We want to thank him for his service to the club and wish him well for the future."

Kirby has made no secret of his fierce desire to play international cricket and knows that time is running out if he is to fulfil his ambition.

He said: "This decision has not been an easy one, especially given the fact that I had been awarded a benefit next year.

"But I am very ambitious and still have the desire and hunger to win things and to achieve my dream of one day playing for England.

"I don't want to finish my career with any regrets and wonder what might have been. I definitely have unfinished business and there are many things I still want to achieve in this game.

"I am really excited about this next challenge in my career wherever it may take me."

Kirby was Gloucestershire's leading wicket-taker in first class cricket last season with 64 and won their Player-of-the-Year award. He has not been as prolific this season, but is still rated among the top seamers in the Championship Second Division.

With Gemaal Hussain out of contract at the end of the season and already the subject of approaches from several counties including Somerset, Gloucestershire are in danger of seeing their highly-regarded pace attack broken up.

But Richardson insists the club are as committed as ever to achieving success on the field.

"Plans were already in place to rejuvenate the squad by signing some younger players over the next couple of years and we will bring these forward," he said.

"We have had five players represent England Under-19s over the past two years and Steve's departure will create further opportunities for these younger players."

Kirby admits to some mixed feelings. "I would like to thank Gloucestershire for their support in this decision and thank the people at the club who have helped me and made me feel so welcome in my time here," he said.

"I wish everybody at the club the very best of success for the future."

Kirby has been left out of the squad for Gloucestershire's penultimate LV=County Championship game of the season against Leicestershire at Grace Road, starting today.

The shock defeat by Derbyshire at Bristol last week has all but dispelled the club's hopes of winning promotion, but skipper Alex Gidman insists there will be no let-up while it is mathematically possible to be in Division One next season.

"We need to win well at Leicester and hope Surrey can make a lot of runs against Glamorgan at The Oval. With the likes of Mark Ramprakash and Kevin Pietersen, they have the batsmen to do just that," he said.

Jonathan Batty has been named in the squad after being left out of the Derbyshire game. James Franklin faces a late check on a back problem.

Gloucestershire (from): W.Porterfield, J.Batty, C.Dent, H.Marshall, A.Gidman (capt), C.Taylor, J.Franklin, E.Young, S.Snell, J.Lewis, J.Taylor, A.Ireland, G.Hussain.