UPDATE
The Suns have released the following statement, via club CEO Mark Evans:
“Upon our request Tom Lynch has advised the club of his desire to exercise his rights as a Restricted Free Agent during October’s Free Agency Period.
“We’ve been in constant dialogue with Tom and his management throughout the year, early last month we had indications that the decision was heading this way and we asked Tom to give us a decision when he returned to the club.
“He returned to the Gold Coast after surgery today and informed us and the playing group of his intent. We accept that the Free Agency system provides this option for Tom and will move forward with the best interests of the club at heart.
“I can confirm that the Board, senior members of our Football Department & the Player Leadership Group share a view that Tom should relinquish his captaincy of the club and therefore his position has been rescinded.
“The club will continue to assist Tom with his rehabilitation from injury, however he won’t be part of the football program for the remainder of the season.
“Tom understands all the mechanics of being a Restricted Free Agent, which ultimately can’t come to a conclusion until October.
“Importantly for us we still have four matches to play this season and our focus is on continuing to build an environment and game plan that will set us up for the future.”
EARLIER
Gold Coast co-captain has informed the Suns he wants to leave the club, according to The Age.
Lynch wants to come to a Melbourne-based club according to the report, with Richmond the frontrunners. Collingwood is also interested in Lynch, as they met with the forward as early as this week, while Hawthorn is considered a long shot.
Lynch has met with all three clubs pursuing his services.
On SEN Breakfast, Garry Lyon said he would select the Tigers if he were Lynch, while Tim Watson said the Magpies would be his preference.
Earlier this week, Suns coach Stuart Dew commented on Lynch’s situation.
"It's not all on Tom's terms," Dew said.
"We've been in constant dialogue with Tom and his manager. When the time is right we'll move forward one way or another.
"There's options we have.
"Is that, he's a restricted free agent, is it matching? Is it he decides to stay? Is it he decides he wants to explore, which we know he's doing.
"That time will come, but right now his next appointment is with a surgeon to get cleared to come back and we'll confront that then."
Listen to Mark Evans' chat on The Match Committee with Sam McClure and Terry Wallace in the player below