Trabelsi in Ajax battle

Tunisia's Hatem Trabelsi and his club Ajax are at loggerheads

Hatem Trabelsi's battle with Dutch club Ajax looks set to continue for a few more weeks as both sides refuse to budge in the row over the Tunisian's future.

The 27-year-old right back wants to move away from the Dutch champions but Ajax are invoking a clause that allows them to extend his contract by two years to 2006.

Trabelsi is insisting that his contract has now run out and that he is free to take up one of the several tempting offers he is reported to have received from clubs in England, Italy and Spain.

The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) is expected to pronounce on the outcome in a few weeks after hearing from both sides in recent days.

But Trabelsi's lawyers have told reporters that if the decision does not go their way they would take the matter to the Dutch courts.

Trabelsi, who helped his country win the African Cup of Nations in February, has made it clear he has ended his relationship with the club.

He even missed the celebrations the club held to mark their victory in the Dutch championship earlier this month.

Coach Ronald Koeman criticised Trabelsi for his conduct.

"Trabelsi has a case against the club, not his team mates," he said.

"He left them in the lurch and I find that every sad.

"Ever since he employed an agent there have been problems.

"Before that I never had any trouble with him."