Cardiff City goalkeeper Alex Smithies will leave the club on a free transfer in the summer, manager Steve Morison has confirmed.
The 32-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season with the decision made not to renew his deal, despite him being first choice at the club this campaign. Nottingham Forest are said to be one of a "number of admirers" for the player when the transfer window opens.
A new financial structure is coming into Cardiff at the start of next season. And Morison has admitted that a new deal was not financially viable for the club.
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"He won't be here next year," Morison told WalesOnline . "He has been excellent for us. Between us not being able to financially compete with where he is and what he would require and the fact he wants to get closer to home in the north of the country.”
Smithies has been a first choice goalkeeper for the Bluebirds this season but was not included in the squad for the last Championship match against Reading, a game which they lost 2-1. Dillon Phillips was instead selected in goal, with Morison explaining the decision.
"He gave us everything he could. Once the Swansea game was out of the way, we had a conversation and I think it's right that Dillon plays for the rest of the season as it's someone who is here next year,” he said. "We thank Alex for everything he has done. It's just where we are at.”
Should Smithies arrive at Forest in the summer, he will enter a squad where there is already a battle for the number one spot. Brice Samba and Ethan Horvath are currently battling it out to be first choice for the remainder of the season.
