Liam Sercombe signed off as a Bristol Rovers players on Monday as the club published its long-awaited retained list for this summer and the 2020/21 campaign.
Having arrived in 2017 from Oxford United, Sercombe's three-year contract will expire on June 30 and the club and player could not come to an agreement over an extension.
The 30-year-old departs the Mem with overwhelming good wishes from Gasheads, predominantly due to his blistering first season in the blue and white quarters as the midfielder scored 12 goals in 48 games under Darrell Clarke.
Since then, however, Sercombe's been unable to replicate that form. Clarke's departure in December 2018 saw him shifted into a role out wide under Graham Coughlan, in which he struggled to be as impactful.
A shoulder injury then interrupted his 2019/20 season under the Dubliner and latterly Ben Garner; a coach whose focus on technical play looked an ideal fit for Sercombe.
But the former Exeter player, who remains a legend at his first club, will not be part of Garner's vision for the future of Rovers as the club look to further reduce a wage bill which had swollen out of control in Clarke's final days, and the new manager places an emphasis on youth.
Sercombe, always an affable and honest interviewee, took to social media to bid farewell and, given his wealth of EFL experience, will surely find a new club soon.
"Would like to thank everyone at Bristol Rovers for my three years there, all staff and all players were a pleasure to work with and I've again learnt from each of them," Sercombe said.
"And to all you fans, thank you so much for making me fit right in from day one. I wish all the club the best in the future. Now looking forward to my next chapter."
