"It's not the fairytale end that I would have liked and hoped and dreamed for, but I've spoken to specialists over the past couple of weeks and have taken on a lot of advice," Neitz said.
"The decision has been made quite easily after seeing two neurosurgeons, and one suggesting that I have surgery on a ruptured disc, and the other suggesting I should perhaps not get the surgery and not play football and hope it gets better.
"Either way, either option means I'm not fit to play football this year and therefore, my retirement is being announced today."