COLOGNE. Sept 8: Kaiserslautern have told their Swiss-born captain Ciriaco Sforza he is free to find himself a new club after publicly criticising all-powerful coach Otto Re-hhagel, reports AFP.

Sforza is away with the Swiss national team at the moment preparing for a Euro 2000 qualifier against Belarus and is not expected back in Kaiserslautern until the end of the week.

He sparked uproar a week ago though when he told a number of journalists that Rehhagel was outmoded in his tactics, lacking an overall concept and too authoritarian in his dealings with the team.

Attempts to smooth over the rift have failed miserably with Sforza insisting he has nothing to apologise for and that he was merely stating the brutal facts to get the club back on track.

Sforza, who formed the heart of the side which won last year's Bundesliga title, has found a slow ground swell of support within the team for his views but none have been brave enough to openly say so. Reports that a secret list is circulating at the club with names being gathered of players who agree with Sforza have been denied.