NORTHERN IRELAND international Damien Johnson wants to leave Blackburn immediately after being told he will not be offered a new contract.

Rovers chief executive John Williams told Johnson last week that they will be releasing him in the summer when his contract expires.

Johnson, 23, who has spent all of his career at the club, had expected as much after failing to win a regular place for the last couple of seasons, and he would prefer to go now.

The Northern Ireland midfielder would like Rovers to sell him for a nominal fee or release him and a number of clubs are already interested in signing him.

Most of the interest is from clubs in the First Division and Nottingham Forest, where Johnson once spent a loan spell, are believed to be at the head of the queue along with Preston North End.

"John Williams told me on Wednesday that the club would not be giving me a new contract and it wasn't a big surprise," he said.

"I think the writing has been on the wall.

"I would like to leave before the end of the season and I'm hoping the club will accept a nominal fee or release me.

"I just want to go somewhere where I can play regular first-team football, and I haven't been able to do that here.

"But if the club won't let me go, then I'll just have to wait until the end of the season when I'll be a free agent."