Like the prophet in his own land, Keith Fahey regrets the fact that he had to leave his own country so he can see his career progress.

After six seasons in the Eircom League, Fahey will, in all probability, play his last game on the Irish club scene next weekend when he lines out for St Patrick's Athletic against his old club, Drogheda United.

A number of British clubs are interested in the 25-year-old from Tallaght, and though there is bound to be a bit of haggling over the €500,000 price tag placed on his head by Fahey's club, he admits that his career in the League of Ireland is now over.

"That was probably my last home game for St Pats, it's out of my hands now and it's up to other people to do the business end of things, but if I have my way, I will be gone now," Fahey told the Herald.

"That's not being disrespectful towards St Pats as I have had great times here, but I need to step things up in my career and I probably need to move on to do that.

"I feel frustrated. I think that comes across on the pitch sometimes, I lose the head because things can get me down, whether that's us playing badly or us not winning things or the crowds being small.

"I would love to play in front of bigger crowds every week and, to do that, I need to go abroad because the interest is just not there in Ireland.

"It's sad that it has to happen and that this is the case. I would love to be able to stay in Ireland, play in front of big crowds every week, do well and maybe get some recognition at other levels, but that's not what's happening.

"Hopefully something will happen now, we have four to six weeks to get something sorted and get a move," he added.

Continental clubs may take a look at Fahey who made a big impression against Latvian, Swedish and German opposition in the UEFA Cup last summer, but a move to Britain -- specifically the Championship -- is more likely.

Birmingham City, West Ham and Brighton have all watched Fahey in action, but he has already turned down the offer of a trial at Sunderland.

"You could lose face if you go on trials, other clubs might think that if you're not good enough for one club after a trial then you're not good enough for them, so I have no real interest in going on trial with anyone," he says.

Fahey has been in super form for the Saints in recent weeks, and was the star of the show once again in Monday's 2-1 win over Derry City, a result that secured second place in the league for Pats for next season. At the end of the game Fahey leaned in towards the crowd to shake hands and wave goodbye.

"It was an emotional night for me on Monday night," said Fahey, who said his goodbyes as that was his last league game at the venue. "Again, it was disappointing that the crowd was so poor on Monday against Derry, it would have been nice to say goodbye to the fans in a bigger match that might have had a bigger meaning.

"But the night went well for me against Derry, I got a goal and won a penalty, we won the game and I was the captain so it was a good way to finish at Inchicore.

"This year has been one of my best in my career and I think that was down to the fact that I had good players all around me, they got more out of my game so I have a lot to be thankful for to the people at St Pats."