Julian Bennett has been told he has a future at Nottingham Forest if he fails to find alternative employment.
Full-back's City Ground career not necessarily over
Nottingham Forest have told Julian Bennett that he has a future at the club if he fails to find alternative employment when his contract expires.
The defender's deal runs out at the end of the month and he is looking to move on after a frustrating couple of seasons at the City Ground.
Having been sidelined with a serious knee injury in 2009/10, he was loaned out to Crystal Palace on a six-month deal last summer.
Forest are now prepared to let Bennett leave permanently, having blocked a January departure, but insist they will stand by him if no deal is forthcoming.
"Last season was quite a truncated time for Julian as he came back from a serious injury," chief Executive Mark Arthur told the club's
official website.
"He wanted to go out on loan after January but, with our lack of cover at left-back, we told him that wasn't possible.
"However, we have got a gentleman's agreement with him that if he can't find a suitable club then he can come back for one more year at Forest.
"Hopefully we're seen to be looking after our players in a proper fashion."
