BRISTOL City captain Louis Carey hopes to play on for 'another three or four seasons' after moving into second place on the club's all-time appearances list.

Carey has now featured 583 times for the Robins, having passed Trevor Tainton (581) in the last home game against Derby County.

He could yet get to number one in the list, overtaking former England striker John Atyeo on 645, if he remains a regular under new boss Steve Coppell.

Such a feat will probably take two seasons for the 33-year-old centre half, who has been virtually ever- present when fit since Brian Tinnion brought him back to Ashton Gate after a brief spell at Coventry in 2005.

Carey said: "Last pre-season I did some work with certain people on diet and everything else and this season is the best I have ever felt.

"I think there's no reason why I can't play for another three or four years, although at what level I don't know.

"Apart from a broken toe and a few little knocks I don't feel too bad."

Carey admits he never expected to make such a high number of appearances for City when he made his debut under Joe Jordan's management in 1995.

"Obviously I am very pleased with that type of record," he said.

"It is something I didn't really expect to get to when I started playing, but as the seasons have gone on I have got closer and I am very proud to have got to second place."

So will he be able to break Atyeo's record? "I suppose you will have to speak to the manager about that," he said.

"But I have got a year left on my contract and like anybody I want to go on and play as many games as I can.

"I am not playing to get any records or anything but it's for the club and the love of football.

"It all depends on how many games you play each season. With the new manager coming in they have their own ideas and you might not be involved at all.

"Hopefully I will play as many games as I can and then you start looking at new contracts and go from there."

Carey is not one to keep a close eye on his statistics but he admits to constantly nagging room-mate and fellow centre-half Liam Fontaine about the matter on away trips.

"I didn't until this one but I speak to Fonts and bug the hell out of him getting him to go on the internet," he said.

"But now I am not interested until I get near to John Atyeo. I am about 17 away from 600 and that will be proud for me being my local club."

Carey admits the 6-0 and 5-2 defeats at home to Cardiff City and Doncaster Rovers blighted a season which featured the departure of Gary Johnson and a spell as caretaker manager from Keith Millen.

He said: "Milly has been tremendous in the last 10 games or whatever and the lads really took to him and everyone is pleased he's staying on to work with the new manager.

"It was a season of massive highs and massive lows. People look at it and the injury time goals and if we hadn't had them we would definitely be in the play-offs.

"A couple of heavy defeats blinded people's opinions on the season but overall to finish with more points than last season we can't be doing too badly."