NATHAN Tyson is set to become a free agent after Nottingham Forest confirmed he had rejected a new deal to stay at the City Ground.

A string of Championship clubs, including Ipswich Town, have been linked with the pacy striker and he will become a wanted man among many after apparently ending his five-and-a-half-year spell at Forest.

In an unusual turn of events, the club today issued a statement claiming Tyson’s father, who is now acting as the player’s agent, has already been negotiating with other clubs.

Forest’s chief executive Mark Arthur said: “Under normal circumstances we would not be discussing matters like this in public, but as a club we feel there is a need to explain the situation.

“Over the last season the club has been in regular contact with Nathan’s agent, chartered accountant Andy Weekes, and we informed him that we would be making an offer, in line with Football League regulations, when we knew what division we would be playing in next season.

“In the fullness of time we did that but were subsequently told by Mr Weekes that he was no longer Nathan’s agent and that the player’s matters were being dealt with by his father.

“Mr Len Tyson is neither a FA-registered nor an FA-registered close relative, who can act for players on a non-charging basis. Despite this Nathan’s father has informed us that Nathan has rejected our contract offer. We would like to thank Nathan for his five years service and wish him well for the future.”