PAUL Clement will leave Blackburn Rovers after telling them he wants to join Paris St Germain – while Ryan Nelsen's Ewood Park future is also now shrouded in uncertainty.

The Lancashire Telegraph understand Clement told Steve Kean today (Thursday) he wanted to quit Ewood for the French giants, just three months after being appointed as Rovers' assistant manager.

It is also believed club skipper Ryan Nelsen has flown home to New Zealand as he struggles to recover from his knee injury.

Clement’s departure follows the shock sacking of former number two John Jensen earlier this season, leaving Rovers in the embarrassing situation of looking for their third assistant manager of the campaign.

The chance to join up again with new PSG boss Carlo Ancelotti, having worked together at Chelsea, is believed to have been too good an opportunity for Clement to turn down.

Club sources told the Lancashire Telegraph on Wednesday no official contact had been made by Paris St Germain but we understand Clement was given time off by Kean to consider his future.

There was no comment available from Blackburn Rovers today but talks are expected to discuss compensation.

First team coach Iain Brunskill is likely to be promoted as Kean's assistant manager when Clement's move to France is completed.

Nelsen's absence will be a further blow to Rovers' survival bid with his New Zealand trip suggesting any playing comeback is some way off.

The New Zealand skipper has only played one game this season and, after a behind closed doors appearance a few weeks ago, is understood to have suffered a fitness set back.

A number of Major League Soccer clubs in America are understood to be interested in signing the 34-year-old.

Nelsen signed a new deal last season to keep him at Ewood Park until the summer of 2013 but Venky's desire to ease the club's crippling wage bill could lead to his departure.

Michel Salgado and Jason Roberts have already been told they can leave the club due to clauses in their contract that would guarantee them another year at the club if they played a certain amount of games.

Neither player have been available for selection over the past few weeks and both have dismissed 'injury' claims by insisting their unavailability is due to 'contractual issues'.

Meanwhile Rovers' out of favour midfielder Keith Andrews is expected to resume training with the club on Monday, after ending a loan spell with Ipswich Town.

Andrews is keen on sealing a permanent deal elsewhere, with several clubs interested, but has been left frustrated by Rovers calling for him to return.