Forest release midfielder Commons

Commons joined Forest from Stoke in 2004 (Getty Images)

Nottingham Forest have released Kris Commons after the midfielder told boss Colin Calderwood he wanted to leave.

The 24-year-old is out of contract and has been strongly linked with a move to arch-rivals Derby County.

Commons, who helped Forest to promotion from League One this term, was offered a new contract last season but instead only signed a new one-year deal.

Calderwood said: "He told me shortly after we had secured promotion that he had already decided to leave."

Commons moved to the City Ground from Stoke City four years ago and despite the delay in agreeing a new deal, Calderwood was confident the left-footed midfielder would stay.

606: DEBATE If he does go to Derby I will be upset, but I am not too bothered that he has gone ForeverForest_88

"We had hoped to sit down with him and his agent at the end of the season and talk about his future," Calderwood said.

The Reds have also released midfielders Alan Power and Felix Bastians.

But Sammy Clingan, Dale Roberts, Paddy Gamble, Shane Redmond, Hamza Bencherif and Joe Heath are considering contract offers.

And youngsters Mark Byrne, who made his first-team debut last month as a substitute against Cheltenham, and Tom Sharpe have signed new one-year deals.