YORK City's multiple Player of the Year Keith Lowe has left Bootham Crescent by mutual consent.

The 30-year-old defender - The Press Player of the Year in the last two seasons, as well as winning the fans' accolade last term - has not featured for the Minstermen since manager Jackie McNamara's second game in charge, a 2-1 home League Two defeat to Plymouth Argyle on November 14, when he came on as a 72nd-minute substitute.

He had started McNamara's first game in charge - a 3-2 FA Cup loss at Accrington Stanley - but was substituted at half-time.

His exit had been on the cards after he was made available for a loan move before that transfer window closed, though no such switch materialised.

Lowe, whose professional career began at Wolves in 2004, overlapping McNamara's spell as a player there, initially joined the Minstermen on loan from Cheltenham Town in November 2013, before signing a permanent contract on a free transfer two months later. He helped the club to the League Two play-offs that season.

In total, he played 101 games for City, 20 of those appearances coming this season.

A club statement said: "York City Football Club can reveal that defender Keith Lowe has left Bootham Crescent by mutual consent.

"The 30-year-old initially joined the Minstermen on loan in November 2013, before signing a permanent contract two months later and helping the club to the League Two play-offs that very same season.

"A firm favourite with his team-mates and fans alike, which was underlined by his role as vice-captain as well as numerous appearances in the community, Lowe continued at the heart of the City defence last season, claiming the Player of the Year award at the end of the campaign.

"In total, the Wolverhampton-born centre-half made 101 appearances in all competitions for the Minstermen, scoring eight times.

"York City would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Keith for his significant contribution over the past two years and wish him and his family the very best for the future."

Lowe's form last season saw him pick up no fewer than four Player of the Year awards at the club’s end-of-season presentation night at York Racecourse.

In addition to the Press accolade and the fans' vote - the Billy Fenton Memorial Trophy for Clubman of the Year - he also collected gongs from the Harrogate and East Riding Minstermen Supporters’ groups.

It followed a season in which only strikers Jake Hyde, with ten goals, and Wes Fletcher, with seven, netted more times for the team than the ex-Cheltenham and Kidderminster defender, who ended with six in his 49 appearances, in addition to his defensive efforts.

He was also the club's only ever-present in the League Two campaign.