Chris Lines is considering a contract offer from Stevenage, but the midfielder admits it would be a "dream come true" to return to Bristol Rovers.
The 35-year-old is a modern Gas legend with three promotions and more than 350 appearances across two spells at the club, and the Bristol-born midfielder has not ruled out a third stint with his boyhood side.
Lines spent the second half of the 2020/21 campaign with League Two Stevenage, making 20 appearances and becoming a key part of Alex Revell's resurgent side – climbing from the relegation zone to finish comfortably in mid-table.
Stevenage are eager for free agent Lines to stay at the Lamex Stadium, but Rovers' relegation to League Two has many supporters clamouring for him to wear the blue and white quarters again and be part of Joey Barton's rebuild.
Should the opportunity arise, Lines told Bristol Live it would be very tough to turn it down.
"I’ve been offered something at Stevenage and I’m negotiating different stuff and seeing what other things come about at the minute," he told Bristol Live.
"Normally I’d be on holiday and relaxing, but that’s obviously not possible so I’m at home, trying to keep myself busy, and I’ve been on the phone to my agent to see what’s coming about.
"But I didn’t want to leave Rovers in the first place, it just happened as it did. It’s the first team’s score I check after every game and I guess when everyone gets relegated they start thinking there’s a few players that can come back.
"I see everything online and I’ve always wanted to finish my career there. It would be a dream come true for me.
"I’m back home in Bristol for the summer and it would be nice if I could stay put and get a club that’s a little more local, but I’ve also got the fact that when I was at Stevenage I was close to my little girl, so it’s a catch 22 situation really."
Lines was released by Rovers in 2019 following a fractious relationship with then boss Graham Coughlan, and the player went on to win the League Two play-offs with Northampton Town that season.
With five career promotions on his CV, including three from League Two, Gas boss Barton could do a lot worse than have a man in his side who could write a manual on climbing the EFL ladder.
At 35, Lines shows little sign of slowing down and has been a fit and reliable part of one of the division's form sides in recent months, but he accepts the possibility of a return to the Mem is out of his control.
He continued: "I think everyone knows I would love to go back and help the club or finish my career there, but it’s out of my hands and it’s not a situation you can force and I’m waiting for my agent to come up with the right club for me.
"There’s no massive rush, it’s just it’s a bit more difficult because normally you’d be away on holiday enjoying yourself and forgetting about football, but we’re stuck at home and you can’t help but wake up in the morning and look at your phone to see if anyone’s called you.
"I’ve always thought if I could end up at Rovers eventually, towards the end of my career, that would be a dream come true for me, but it’s not in my hands and all I can do is keep playing well on the pitch.
"My aim is to keep playing for as long as I can."
Lines spoke to Bristol Live for a wide-ranging interview which will be published in full by Bristol Live on Friday.
