Nottingham Forest have been linked with 24-year-old Tom Lockyer after he chose not to renew his Bristol Rovers contract this season, as reported by Bristol Live.

Lockyer has left Graham Coughlan's side this summer as he seeks pastures new, but he's made a startling admission that will surprise Gas fans; he should have left much sooner.

Lockyer has spent his entire career with Rovers, earning a Wales call up and becoming club captain, but he believes he should have left sooner after his career 'went stale'.

"Personally, I knew before the season started this was probably going to be my last season at Rovers," he told Bristol Live.

"From my point of view, I've been at Rovers too long. Eight years is a long time. You start to go stale at some point. Two years too long, if I'm being honest with myself."

Lockyer revealed that he felt he couldn't get out earlier, but that his former employers will always have a special place in his heart.

"For whatever reason, I couldn't get out earlier. When the time is right, you know the time is right and I did feel the time was right now.

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"I'm ready for a new challenge but I've been here eight years and you can't be at a club that long without having an affiliation with it. I love the club, I love everything about it."

Forest are at the front of the queue to sign Lockyer, as he was a target last summer before they picked up Sam Byram.

The Verdict

It will be hard for Rovers fans to hear, one of their own saying he should have left sooner.

He's still young and ambitious and I disagree with him. He needed to become a complete player and two years ago wouldn't have been as rounded as he is now.

I think it's the perfect time to go and these comments were wholly unnecessary.