Departing captain Matty Brown admits he’s ‘gutted’ to be leaving Chester FC.
Blues boss Steve Burr has not offered the centre-back a new contract meaning the 25-year-old is looking for a new club.
Injuries afflicted Brown’s season - including ruling him out of the final three games - although he still made 28 appearances, scoring three times.
Ben Heneghan and Michael Kay are signed up for next term, and the manager could have a new centre-half in his sights with Nuneaton Town’s Gareth Dean among those on the market.
Although sad to be moving on, Brown insists he bears no hard feelings over his departure.
“I spoke to the gaffer and he just said he couldn’t offer me anything at the moment,” said Brown.
“He said he wanted to wait until June to see how the ankle goes and told me if something came up elsewhere then I should take it.
“If nothing comes of it then the gaffer’s told me I’m welcome to come back in for pre-season and that’s how it’s been left really.
“There’s no hard feelings and we’ve wished each other well.
“I’ve said before, there’s nothing I’d want more than to stay at Chester and I’m gutted that I’m not but that’s football. Things change and you’ve just got to move on.”
Liverpool-born Brown first joined the club at the back end of the 2013-14 season on loan from Chesterfield. He completed a permanent switch to the Swansway Chester Stadium last summer after leaving the Spireites.
He began the 2014-15 campaign as first choice but the team’s poor start led to him losing his place five games in.
Brown returned to the side in November and produced some excellent performances before picking up an unfortunate knock.
He won his place back again but a bad challenge from Forest Green Rovers forward Kurtis Guthrie sidelined him for the last three mates.
“The injury did come at a bad time but without being bitter about it, I still think I did enough over the season to earn a contract,” said Brown.
“I’d like to think I had a good rapport with the fans and everyone at the club. I felt at home at Chester and I’ve not really had that at other clubs. You can’t get down about so you’ve just got to look for the next challenge, and hopefully I’ll get a good reception when I come back to the Deva.
“I’m back running now and the ankle’s almost at 100%. I’ve been going to a physio and they said it was just some damage to an old injury but nothing too serious.”
Brown has already received interest from other clubs but plans to take his time before deciding his next move.
“I’ve spoken to a few managers already who have said they want to take me but I’m not going to rush into a decision.
“I’ll go away on holiday and come back, see what’s on the table, weigh up the options and do what’s right for me.”
