The on-loan centre-half was a key member of the latter part of The Walks outfit's title-winning campaign last season.

A club statement released on Tuesday said: "The Linnets have learned that defender Rikki Bains will not be joining them next season.

"Bains joined Lynn in a loan move from Tamworth in February and made an instant impact when scoring on debut against Halesowen Town.

"Despite the offer of a year's contract from Lynn, Bains turned the offer down with the player believed to be in talks with other clubs.

"It is understood that Lynn will now turn their attentions elsewhere as they look to strengthen up for the new season."

Lynn boss Keith Webb added: "The ball's in Rikki's court.

"I'm in talks with other players, just keeping my options open."

Bedfordshire-based striker Matt Nolan – along with Suffolk forwards Danny Bloomfield Joe Francis, the most Southern-situated of Lynn's northbound squad – is angling for a better deal.

Bloomfield is unsure of his future for travelling reasons, and Webb said: "I will know more fairly shortly."

On two former Linnets who would represent possible targets, at present Webb has virtually no avenues to go down.

He said: "Adam Smith is still under contract at Peterborough – there'd be a fee involved until he's sorted himself out and he's know what to do.

"There's not a lot I can do and we wouldn't want to go down the fee route."

On Cambridge Utd's Gavin Hoyte, who returned from his loan spell at The Walks after picking up a hamstring injury, he said: "There nothing I can do until he knows what's happening.

"He's under contract for another year, with the option for another, I think.

"The situation may have been different if Cambridge had gone up (the U's lost in the Blue Square Conference National play-off final to Exeter at the weekend), so it's all speculation."