Van Hooijdonk surplus to requirements again

Pierre van Hooijdonk’s second spell at NAC Breda looks set to be cut short after the striker was offered a free transfer.

The 36-year-old former Celtic and Nottingham Forest striker signed a one-year contract with NAC last March but complained of an increased feeling of pressure to perform before the club agreed he could be released.

NAC coach Cees Lok told Van Hooijdonk he could join Ajax, AZ, Feyenoord, Heerenveen, PSV Eindhoven or any non-Dutch club on a free transfer but insisted Breda’s closer rivals would be required to pay a transfer fee.

Van Hooijdonk – who was transfer listed at his own request at Forest in 1998 when he staged a three-month strike – disappointed in his second spell with NAC, netting just five Eredivisie goals as the side struggled.

He told newspaper BN De Stem: “The water has been boiling from the start of the season onwards. When I played here 10 years ago things were completely different.”

His discontent surfaced during NAC’s clash with Roda JC when, as the Breda outfit were beaten 4-0, Van Hooijdonk was seen to argue with one of his side’s own fans.