Best if Conway leaves Bristol City 'soon' - Manning

Tommy Conway has a contract with Bristol City that runs until summer 2025

Bristol City head coach Liam Manning says he has not fallen out with unsettled Scotland striker Tommy Conway but it will be best if the player leaves the club "sooner rather than later".

Conway, 21, has one year left on his current contract but has turned down the Robins' offer of a new deal.

The club's top scorer for the last two seasons is currently training away from the first-team squad with City's under-21 players while his future is sorted out.

"I know there was a lot of noise around me and Tommy falling out but that's not the case at all - we've been getting on fine," Manning told BBC Radio Bristol.

"I've had numerous chats with him last season going into his final year. The club, for me, made a fantastic offer to him but it was turned down. It wasn't negotiated.

"Then he gave the indication he wants to move on, he doesn't want to re-sign and stay."

Conway came up through the City academy and made his senior debut in April 2021 at the age of 18 and has scored 25 goals in 92 games.

He has returned to Ashton Gate having been part of Scotland's squad for Euro 2024.

With the start of the new Championship season less than a month away, Manning said the rest of the City squad must be his priority.

"For me, I will always protect the group as we prepare to go into another relentlessly difficult season, we need people who are fully focused on us," he said.

"I had a chat with Tommy and explained that to him. He's working hard with the [under] 21s and making sure he's getting his programmes right and he's getting everything he needs.

"For me, my energy, and the staff's energy, needs to go into the team that are going to be fighting for the club week in, week out.

"He's indicated he wants to leave so the sooner the better, I think, for everyone involved.

"As it stands, we've had no offers on the table so we'll have to see what happens."