Midfielder Jones is one of five players who have not been offered a new contract by manager Brian Little, who is making wholesale changes to his squad after seeing the club's 87 year unbroken membership of the Football League ended.

Whether or not Jones had been offered a new deal, it was unlikely the 23-year-old would have signed after recently stating his intention of seeking a new challenge elsewhere.

But Jones, from Rhos, who has been with Wrexham in some capacity for 15 years, said it was still strange to sever ties with his hometown club for whom he made 126 league appearances.

"It feels very weird," admitted Jones, who is rumoured to be interesting a number of clubs.

"I have been with Wrexham since I was eight, and with the club full-time for eight years since I left school.

"It is a strange situation I find myself in because Wrexham has been my life.

"It is disappointing knowing that I won't go back there but I have to look to the future, and think about myself now."

Jones has been contemplating his future in recent months after not finding himself part of Little's plans for the crucial run-in.

That was despite overcoming a torn hamstring sustained in the 1-0 defeat at Grimsby Town on January 12 – Jones' last ever first team appearance for the Reds.

And not being involved with the first team helped Jones make up his mind that he needed to resurrect his career elsewhere.

"I have not been offered a new contract so I can make a clean break," said Jones, whose free transfer will not generate any compensation for the Reds as he was not offered a new deal.

"I knew I needed a new challenge, although I am not sure where I will end up.

"I've been thinking that I needed something new for the last month or so now. I have not been playing and it made me realise I needed to move on.

"The most disappointing thing is that I have been fit since March but I have not even been getting a look in.

"I wanted to try and help the team stay up but I was not getting a chance and that was annoying.

"I had to think things over with being out of contract in the summer and made my mind up I had to leave."

Jones has been limited to just 14 league starts this term and although frustrated by injury, admits there has been a dip in his form: "It has been a very disappointing season because of injures and form," he said.

"To play well you have to have a run of games in the side and I have not really had that.

"I have had a lot of injuries but I am not making excuses. When I have played I have not really been good enough."

Jones made his first team debut for Wrexham at the age of 18 as a late substitute in the 4-0 victory over Exeter City in September 2002.

Although he only made one more appearance that term, and had a solitary LDV Vans Trophy start together with 13 league appearances from the bench in the following campaign, Jones found himself given more opportunities during the 2004-05 season.

Jones went on to play in 39 games after impressing in his attacking midfield role, helping Wrexham to win the LDV Vans Trophy final against Southend United at The Millennium Stadium.

The 2005-06 campaign saw Jones contribute with 16 goals – the majority of which were spectacular strikes – to end as Wrexham's leading scorer, but despite finding the net with regularity at the start of last season his form curtailed.

However, having long been in the thoughts of John Toshack, Jones won his first senior international cap as a second half substitute when Wales beat Liechtenstein 4-0 in a friendly at The Racecourse in November 2006.

Jones may not have hit the same heights as when he first burst on the scene at Wrexham but the midfielder has some happy memories of his time at the club.

"Even though I have gone I will still look for Wrexham's results and I hope they come straight back up," he added.

"I had some great years at Wrexham. I have some fond memories I will always remember such as breaking into the first team and winning the LDV Vans Trophy.

"But there have been some bad times like administration and I won't forget those either.

"I have seen a lot at Wrexham and this season has not been nice for anyone."

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