FOREST Green are being linked with a move for their out of contract former central defender Darren Jones.

Rovers  have made no comment on whether they’d be interested in reuniting with former captain Jones, who left Shrewsbury Town last week, but it is understood the player would be receptive to a return to the New Lawn.

Jones said: “I always keep tabs on what is going on up there and always check their results. I said when I left I would always want to return at some time in my career.”

Jones, 30, joined his hometown club Newport in 2004 after his release at Cheltenham Town, but moved to Forest Green and racked-up 165 league appearances for Rovers over two separate spells with his second spell, a three-year stint under Gary Owers and  Jim Harvey.

He’s barely looked back since in almost a decade in the Football League, Jones playing for Hereford, Aldershot and then Shrewsbury under Graham Turner.

Jones, who made 17 appearances this season, had the remaining five months of his contract paid up by the Shrews.

"The decision wasn't taken lightly but I had no choice really," Jones told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"That's football - I need to be playing games at 30 years of age."

Jones was told at the start of the season that he would be third choice centre-back.

"If I was to stay here and then sat on the bench for the rest of the season I think I would have found it very difficult to get a team next season," he added.

Just 24 hours after Jones’ release, boss Turner quit the club.