AARON Mclean has today left City to bring an unhappy and expensive chapter to a close.

The striker’s contract, thought to be the highest at the club, has been cancelled by mutual consent with a year still to run.

While no details have been revealed, it is thought that City have made a significant saving compared to what they would have had to pay for the length of the deal.

Mclean, signed in January 2014 to replace Nahki Wells, scored seven goals in 27 starts. But he spent most of last season back on loan at Peterborough, initially as a player but then helping as part of the coaching staff when Dave Robertson succeeded Darren Ferguson.

With Robertson now in the job on a full-time basis, it would be no surprise to see the 32-year-old return to London Road on a similar dual role. Mclean remains a hugely popular figure with Posh after his prolific spell there earlier in his career.

Joint-chairman Julian Rhodes had recently talked about installing an extra fitness programme through the summer to get the striker in shape for a possible second stint at Valley Parade.

But it was always hard to see him featuring again for Phil Parkinson, so a compromise deal will suit all parties.

Mclean scored three times for City last season – his final goal against Crewe at the beginning of October. He did not play for the club again after the home defeat to Sheffield United a fortnight later.

Mclean said on Twitter: "(I'd) just like to thank all those who supported me in my time there. I wish the lads all the very best for the upcoming season."

But James Hanson is unlikely to be following him out of the Valley Parade exit after City made it clear they would be very reluctant to lose him to Millwall.

The Lions have maintained a keen interest in the hitman and he was thought to top their summer wanted list.

But after City knocked back an initial bid for Hanson last week, Parkinson has stressed their hard-line stance.

He said: “We are looking to build a squad and improve, not weaken it.

“We’ve no need financially to sell anybody and none of our players will be leaving unless it’s for the benefit of the squad going forward.

“We want to improve and there is a lot of work to do over the summer.

“We will win some and lose some along the way. But we’ve got it under control.”

With two years remaining on his contract, City would be under no pressure to let Hanson go.

Previous club Guiseley also have a hefty sell-on clause in any fee, believed to be 25 per cent, so it would have to be a significant offer to tempt them to part with a player who has been an integral part of their plans for the past six seasons.

With Millwall coming down from the Championship, there is also the sensitive issue of doing business with a direct rival from the same division.