BLACKBURN Rovers today hit back at reports claiming Andre Ooijer has been told he can leave the club on a free transfer next summer.

Several media sources in Holland have reported the Dutch international will be allowed to quit Rovers for nothing at the end of the season, possibly for Feyenoord.

However, Rovers chairman John Williams has angrily refuted those stories, claiming no decision has yet been taken in terms of whether to extend Ooijer's contract or not.

"It's simply not true that we've said to Andre he can leave on a free transfer next summer," said Williams.

"The situation with his contract is very simple. We signed him on a two-year deal last summer and the club has the option of a further year if we want to extend it.

"The date that clause must be exercised by is around April time, so no decision has to be made just yet.

"All I will say is Andre is a very valuable member of Mark Hughes' squad."

Dutch football magazine 'Voetbal International' ran a story last week linking Ooijer with a move to Feyenoord at the end of the season, and the 33-year-old defender admits he has been bombarded with text messages ever since.

"Nothing official is going on; they have not made me an offer. But a number of Feyenoord players have started a kind of text message offensive in a bid to persuade me to join them," revealed Ooijer.

The former PSV Eindhoven stopper, who is in the Dutch squad for tonight's Euro 2008 qualifier with Belarus in Minsk, appears to be in no rush to call time on his spell at Blackburn.

However, he also knows he is at that stage in his career where he needs to consider all options, which is why he is not ruling anything out.

The defender, who turns 34 next July, added in the Dutch press: "If a concrete offer comes my way I will certainly reflect on the situation."