CHARLTON plc chairman Richard Murray has hit out at midfielder Alexei Smertin following the Russia captain's decision to quit the club in favour of signing a lucrative four-year contract for Dinamo Moscow.

Smertin had been on a season-long loan from Chelsea when he approached manager Alan Curbishley and told him that he no longer wished to play for the club after Chelsea received an offer from Dinamo Moscow.

"We were in discussions with Chelsea officials over the weekend regarding Smertin's complex contractual situation," Mr Murray explained. "Our agreement contained an option which we could exercise at the end of the current season to sign him from Chelsea for £1million.

"No words can adequately express how angry and disappointed we are that this player felt unable to honour his obligations to us, especially with so many important games coming up."