Werder Bremen captain Torsten Frings was told on Tuesday the north German club will not be extending his contract, leaving the former German international midfielder to hunt for a new club or consider a career in coaching.

Having initially spent 4 1/2 years at Bremen between 1997 and 2002, 34-year-old Frings rejoined Werder in July 2005, making a total of 326 league appearances for the club, but he is out of contract at the end of June.

Bremen's director of sport, Klaus Allofs, and coach, Thomas Schaaf, announced in a press conference on Tuesday Frings will not be offered a contract extension.

"We know that he is disappointed. I can understand it," said Allofs, citing "sporting and economic" reasons for the decision.

Allofs added it was not a matter of money, "because there was no contract offered".

But Frings could still have a future at Bremen as a coach.

"Werder Bremen will offer him a job to train as a coach and to acquire the necessary license," said Allofs.

"He will give us his response in the coming days.

"We will make it possible for him to become a coach, but we will also accept his decision if he decides to continue his career at another club."