PHIL Mustard wants to help Durham win another one-day trophy, but he is free to leave before the end of the season.

Known throughout cricket as the Colonel, his jovial personality and swashbuckling batting have made him one of the most popular players in Durham's first-class history.

Mustard, 33, is one of several players out of contract at the end of the season and, as a former captain on a high salary, Durham cannot afford to prolong his 16-year career.

When his release was announced on Saturday, Mustard said: “It's time for me to take up a new challenge with a different club.”

But it has transpired that while there is interest, he has had no firm offers and it is questionable whether any division one club could offer him the opportunity he craves to play more four-day cricket.

When offered the chance to re-establish himself in Durham's four-day side at the start of last season he averaged 11.25 in eight innings.

If there has been a disappointment in his career it is that someone of his talent ought to have made more than five first-class hundreds, the last one coming at Worcester in 2011.

He made three of those centuries during his two years of captaincy, which he took on when no-one else wanted it after Will Smith was controversially sacked.

It probably did him no favours and things were going badly wrong by the time Paul Collingwood took over halfway through 2012.

Mustard has been part of all Durham's trophy-winning teams, starting when he launched their Friends Provident Trophy final win at Lord's in 2007 with an eye-catching innings of 49.

He has made seven one-day hundreds and had a top score of 83 in his ten one-day internationals.

Michael Richardson has retained the gloves in Durham's four-day team since early last season, when Mustard finished the campaign on loan to Lancashire.

Glamorgan were also interested in him at the time, but he was still under contract to Durham for his benefit season.

He has been resigned to leaving for some time and it will be interesting to see what offers come his way.

Somerset have struggled for a wicketkeeper since the days when they could choose between Jos Buttler and Craig Kieswetter. Yorkshire might also be interested now that Jonny Bairstow is a permanent fixture with England.

Mustard remains a formidable one-day opener and has played a big part in propelling Durham towards the NatWest T20 Blast quarter-finals.

But when coach Jon Lewis was asked if he would press for him to be offered a limited overs contract he said: “I'm not sure that would be attractive to him.”

Durham will also have to decide whether their third wicketkeeper, Stuart Poynter, has what it takes to make the grade.

Although born in Hammersmith, he is currently playing for Ireland in the one-day series against Afghanistan, but at 25 he has yet to make his championship debut.

Chief executive David Harker said of Mustard: “He has been a fantastic servant during his 16 years with the club. He embodies competitive spirit, loyalty and skill and will be greatly missed by everyone at Durham.”

Mustard said: “I have been part of Durham's most successful years and I wish them many more.”

If he could bow out by helping Durham to only their second T20 finals day it would be a fitting finale.