Nottingham Forest will leave the door open for Michael Dawson to take up a different role at the club beyond the summer.
The veteran defender is coming towards the end of his contract with the Reds and will not be offered a new one, but it remains uncertain what future path he will take.
Dawson has not yet officially declared he will hang up his boots and has also turned his hand to media work when he has not been playing.
There is also the possibility of taking up coaching, with many fans keen to see him stay at the City Ground in that capacity, be it with the first-team or the youth sides.
“We are very open,” boss Chris Hughton told NottinghamshireLive.
“I don’t think Michael has officially retired yet, and I wouldn’t be surprised if an opportunity came and he chose to take it.
“What we do know also is he is doing a lot of media work at the moment, and is very good at what he does.
“It will be his decision on what direction he wants to go.
“But the doors are always open here. We’ve got a very good relationship with him.
“It certainly won’t be the last the club will see of him.”
Dawson was an unused substitute against Sheffield Wednesday last week, the first time he had been included in a matchday squad all season.
Even if he finds himself on the bench again this Saturday, for the final game of the campaign against Preston North End, it is unlikely he will get a chance for one final run-out on the City Ground pitch.
Hughton, though, says the club have prepared a tribute for the 37-year-old to thank him for his service, after two separate spells in the Garibaldi.
The centre-back came up through the ranks before making the move to Tottenham Hotspur in 2005. He then returned to Forest 13 years later from Hull City in 2018.
In total, he has made almost 130 appearances for the Reds and netted eight goals.
“I’ve worked with him on two occasions now, when he first came to Tottenham, so I know Michael very well and knew him very well before I came here,” said Hughton.
“I knew about him as an individual.
“As regards Saturday, where we are realistic is Michael has been with us all season and not been involved.
“That was a decision, and a decision because of the four centre-halves that we have - and with Loic (Mbe Soh) coming in, it’s been very difficult for Loic, who is a really good, young prospect.
“That was my choice.
“At this moment, we’ve got a Michael Dawson who hasn’t played, and probably with the fear of him pulling a hamstring in the first few minutes of the game, we’ve chosen to go a different route.
“But we’ve spoken a lot to him this week, and the players also.
“I have to say, the club have done a wonderful tribute to him also, which was very fitting for the service he’s given this club.
“As regards Saturday, we look at it as a bigger picture but we are very, very aware of what he’s done for the club.
“The doors are always open to him. And certainly, as regards any continued connection he has with the club, we are very, very open as a club for anything he would like to do.”
