IPSWICH star Martijn Reuser has labelled the club "anti-social" for going public on their decision to offer him a free transfer.The Dutch midfielder claimed he was surprised when told the news by boss Joe Royle – and even more amazed that Town chose to release the information.

By Mel Henderson

IPSWICH star Martijn Reuser has labelled the club "anti-social" for going public on their decision to offer him a free transfer.

The Dutch midfielder claimed he was surprised when told the news by boss Joe Royle – and even more amazed that Town chose to release the information.

Speaking to Dutch football magazine Voetbal International, the former Ajax player said Royle rang him 12 days ago to give him the bad news.

The Town manager said Reuser's wages, rumoured to be more than £10,000 a week, were too much of a burden for the club. But Reuser, whose daughter Luna was born the next day, accused Royle of telling the press a different story.

Reuser, who was 28 on Saturday, said: "Although Royle let the British media know that I was not really surprised by this news, I actually was totally surprised.

"The timing of the decision could not have been worse and that's if I put it kindly.

"Suddenly last week they allowed me to leave on a free transfer, only one more week before the transfer market closed.

"They said I have to leave because of my wages, but they could have decided that at the start of the month – then I would have had enough time to find another club.

"When clubs now wanted to negotiate with me in the final week of the month, we have to reach an agreement in no time.

"Well, I would not accept any adventure that comes along. The football market is really in crisis at the moment, so you really have to be careful in what you decide to do."

Reuser, a substitute in the 2-0 weekend defeat at Bradford, is under contract until June 2005.

A play-off hero at Wembley in 2000 while on loan from Ajax, he was quickly signed in a £1million permanent deal and has scored 13 goals in 78 appearances for Ipswich.

He has only started once this season, in the UEFA Cup home clash with Avenir Beggen, and was also a substitute in the FA Cup third round win over Morecambe.

Despite being told he can leave for nothing if he can fix himself up with a new club, Reuser is not about to turn his back on Ipswich.

He insisted: "I am not through with the club yet. I have just been recovering for a few weeks from a heavy knee injury and wanted to fight my way back into the team.

"I still want to make the best of it now. Look at Fabian Wilnis, my Dutch team-mate. He was also told he could leave six months ago and now he plays every week."

Unsubstantiated reports linking Reuser with a move to Premiership strugglers Sunderland did nothing to lift the player's spirits.

He said: "That Sunderland is interested is news to me. When they want to negotiate, I think it will be about a loan contract and I do not favour a loan deal.

"As I said, I do not want to leave Ipswich for any opportunity that comes along. So it is possible that I will keep on playing here as my contract is still running here."