ASH Taylor’s departure from Valley Parade has been confirmed.

The centre half has left City after his contract, which still had another year to run, was cancelled by mutual consent.

The 33-year-old, who signed last summer after leaving Kilmarnock, made just 17 appearances.

Taylor suffered an Achilles injury towards the end of pre-season and went off midway through the second half of a difficult debut at Crawley on the opening day.

He came back into the side during Kevin McDonald’s interim spell in charge in October and started the first few games of Graham Alexander’s tenure.

But a red card for a last-minute professional foul protecting City’s clean sheet at Forest Green cost him his place.

Taylor was restored for the EFL Trophy tie at Derby in January and delivered his best performance.

That earned him a four-game run in the side until City’s dismal defeat at Swindon.

He was dropped at that point and did not feature again, suffering a calf injury that he reaggravated in training.

Taylor is the first of the players not in Alexander's plans for next season to leave the club. Others are expected to follow during the window.

Alexander said tonight: “Those conversations between myself and the individuals are confidential. But now that Ash has been announced, he was one of those.

“It’s been sorted quite quickly and we wish him all the best.”