FORMER Newport County AFC loan star Scot Bennett has left League Two rivals Notts County after having his contract terminated by mutual consent.

Bennett signed for the Magpies in May 2015, making six league appearances and one cup appearance last term, and had loan spells at Newport County and York City.

The defender/midfielder impressed after being brought to Rodney Parade by then Exiles boss John Sheridan in October last year.

He is now a free agent and could interest Sheridan's replacement Warren Feeney.

A statement on the Magpies website said: "Everyone at Notts County would like to thank Scot for his services to the club, and wish him all the very best in the future."

Sheridan left Newport in January to take over at Oldham Athletic in January but took over at Notts County last week.

He says he will target players who have already excelled in League Two or higher as he looks to build a promotion-winning team at Meadow Lane.

The Magpies are set to come out of a transfer embargo by the start of next week at the latest, and new boss Sheridan is already working to reconstruct an expensively assembled squad which limped to 17th place last season.

While he says young players could be brought in, he feels those who have already proven themselves in the lower leagues will be the best bet.

"Players who know this league. Possibly players who've been in play-offs and been in division one (League One) and done well," he told the Nottingham Post when asked what kind of signings he would make.

"Possibly there's an age limit but I'm not frightened of young players at all. Most important is to get a balance to the team."