Friday's Bellylaugh (L.E.T.) had an article stating that yesterday may have been his last game for Stanley, with little snippets like Keith Hill (Dale) were interested in him and quotes that Symes "would like to play at a higher level".
From personal opinion, this situation has been on the cards since Symes hasn't signed an improved deal (if there ever was one on the table) and you can't blame the lad for wanting to play at a higher level. However we know that the club only ever had one concrete offer (Grimsby), the club rejected the money and Symes obviously didn't want to go to a club that have inevitably dropped to the B.S.P.
It would be nice if Symes repaid a bit of the faith that Coley & Bell placed in the lad and signed up for another twelve months, maybe putting a contract on the table with a clause allowing Symes to leave if the club received a suitable offer from a club at a higher level that was mutually beneficial to all parties concerned, although I suspect that an agent has become involved.
If that's the case I fear that it won't matter what Coley & Bell try to do to keep him, the agent will inevitably try hold the club to ransom or negotiate a better deal for Symes elsewhere.
I'd be sorry to see Symes go but I think there's players out there who Coley would probably have half an eye on now, especially as it's now the annual clear out season.
That Tadgh Purcell from Darlington has reportedly refused to sign a new deal for them, I wouldn't like to guess what sort of wage he'd be after but he'd be the sort of player that would fit the bill. Only time will tell....