MANAGER Alan Curbishley stepped into the row over Carlton Cole’s departure from Charlton to Aston Villa and disclosed that the striker had agreed to stay with the club for a second season.

Relations between Charlton and Chelsea, which were already strained, are now at breaking point over the issue.

Charlton believe Chelsea are in breach of contract after allowing Cole to join Villa on loan and have asked the Premier League to intervene and resolve the matter. They considered Cole’s loan to be a part of the £10m sale that took Scott Parker to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea, though, insist Cole’s loan was not a part of the Parker transfer and the player’s agent, Jonathan Barnett, said the striker was within his rights to reject a return to The Valley.

But Curbishley said: “Carlton Cole said yes when I asked him about staying for a second season and I took him at his word.

“The next thing he's saying that he wants to go back and fight for his place at Chelsea. Now he’s off to Aston Villa. We believe we had the safety net of the contract agreement with Chelsea to fall back on.”

Peter Varney, Charlton's chief executive, added: “On July 6, we received from Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon a categorical assurance that Carlton Cole would not be loaned to another Premiership club following his decision not to return to Charlton.

“This is a matter that should be resolved between the clubs and it is regrettable that we are now forced to involve the Premier League and lawyers.”

Cole, 20, made nine starts for Charlton and scored five goals, including the winner on the final day against Southampton.