Free agent - David Johnson

We kick off our latest feature - Free Agent - with David Johnson.

We kick off our latest feature - Free Agent - with an exclusive Sky interview with David Johnson, who has been released by Nottingham Forest.

The former Ipswich Town striker is still under contract at The City Ground but has been told by manager Gary Megson that he should leave following the club's relegation to League One.

Johnson would have preferred to stay at Forest, and would surely have been expected to be among the top goalscorers at that level next term, but accepts the decision and is likely to be pursuing a future away from Nottingham.

"We had a meeting and the players were told they were released," said Johnson. "Then we had a team meeting to keep our fitness up for next season and he [Megson] kept five of us behind, kept us all together and told us to find another club, then left the room.

"That was the end of it.

"He said he'd ring our agents, who we haven't heard anything from, so that's my future at the minute.

"Obviously, I'll be looking for a new club; that's it really. I've got to get the other end sorted with what's going to happen at the club, hopefully.

"Basically, he told us to find another club. If we can't, we'll have to come back as I've got two years left, and we'll report for pre-season on June 27.

"I was gutted. Disappointed I didn't get to speak to him one-on-one as I'd have liked to play for Forest in that division. Some players probably won't but I love it here, the family is settled and it wouldn't have bothered me.

"He's made his choice and, if he stands by it, so be it, and I'll be looking for another club.

"The players themselves know they are the ones that took Forest down. It wasn't the manager. He had a lot of games to turn it around but I know I never did enough for that club last season.

"If I'd have been there for the next 20 games, I might have turned my fortunes around and scored goals to keep them up but it wasn't to be.

"Gary Megson's a strong person and I think it's either his way or the highway."