Chris Beardsley has told Kidderminster Harriers he intends to leave the club in the summer despite being on the retained list of manager Stuart Watkiss.
The 20-year-old striker, who scored five goals since joining from Doncaster Rovers in December, was among three of 13 out-of-contract players to be offered new terms in the wake of relegation.
But Beardsley told Watkiss he wants to quit Harriers to join a League Two club, believed to be Mansfield Town. The forward came through the ranks with the Stags when Watkiss was in charge of their youths and then the first team.
It is understood that Beardsley has been in contact with Mansfield; the player was absent from the squad in last Saturday's final League match at Northampton Town.
Watkiss cannot stand in the player's way but since Beardsley is aged under 24 Kidderminster can demand compensation. Doncaster will receive a share of any fee since the arrangement which took him to Aggborough included a 50-50 split of any sell-on.
Watkiss said: "Chris has come in to see me and expressed his wish to leave.
"He said he wants to join a League Two side but, because we have offered him a new deal and he is 20, we can ask for compensation which would probably be decided by a tribunal. But it is an issue that has got to be sorted out in the next few weeks."
Harriers also accept that player-of-the-season Dean Keates and striker Mark Rawle are free to talk to other clubs, despite being offered new 12-month contracts to stay.
Watkiss awaits the go-ahead to sign recruits while the fight for control in the boardroom continues.
