Original sentence: Merson was dropped to the bench for the following game, which was a 5-0 defeat away to Grays Athletic, then announced his retirement from professional football as a player on March 9 2006, less than a month after joining Tamworth.The arrangement only lasted two games, although Merson only played once in the 2-1 home loss to Halifax Town
Edited sentence: Merson announced his retirement from professional football as a player on March 9 2006, less than a month after joining Tamworth.Merson was dropped to the bench for the following game, which was a disappointing 5-0 defeat away to Grays Athletic.The arrangement only lasted two games, although Merson only played once in the 2-1 home loss to Halifax Town, where it had to be said that Merson hardly looked like a player whose transfer fees total £11,250,000 over his career, and the player looked a shadow of his former self, being easily knocked off the ball and a string of potential passes going astray