CHARLTON manager Chris Powell has labelled the loss of young attacker Kasey Palmer to Chelsea as “disappointing”.

The young forward departed SE7 earlier this week to link up with the Blues, having been on the Addicks’ books since the age of nine.

And Powell believes the 16-year-old would have developed quicker had he remained at Charlton but still wishes the youngster a bright future.

“A talented player, he had been with us since he was nine and it is disappointing that he has gone,” said The Valley boss.

“But there was not too much that we can do about it with regards to all the new rulings.

“It’s a shame because we are the ones that have coached him and got him to where he is at now, playing for England.

“I suppose that sometimes, (with) the lure of the Premier League giants, we can’t stop it.

“And it is a real shame because he is a talented boy and I do think he would have progressed quicker with us, but that is just my own personal opinion.

“Chelsea I’m sure will do their best to make him come through, but he is alongside players now who are very similar to him.

“Here we are very proud of our academy and the players that we have produced for the first team.

“It’s part of our remit and part of this club, we have always done it.

“If you look back in the history books we have always done it.

“Players come through and play for our first team, that won’t change.

“I suppose Kasey may have got a chance earlier with us, but who knows.

“He may go there and progress the way he has been and I wish him nothing but the best because he has been a real good player for us and it is a real shame we have lost him but life moves on.”

The Addicks are only likely to receive a small amount of compensation for the forward, which may increase depending on his progression with Chelsea.

Powell was left frustrated another of his young starlets have been snapped up by a Premier League club before signing a professional deal in SE7, but conceded Charlton are powerless to prevent it.

He said: “There is nothing we can do about it, we can only do our best to tie our players up.

“Our history shows what we are about and I think young players, parents, families and their advisors should take that into account – and most of them do.

“We have lost a few before.

“It is not a new phenomenon that we haven’t lost players, we have lost one or two to so-called bigger clubs.

“I see us as a big club, but sometimes they feel the prestige of being at a club like that with all their facilities, we can’t do anything about that.

“What we can do, and what we say to them is, you will get the coaching here because we have done that over the years.

“You will get the development because we have done that and you will get an opportunity because we have done that as well.

“There will be no change from us in that respect.”

Powell added: “It’s a shame but once the lure of a big top four club comes in, it will be hard for a lot of people to turn it down.

“I’m talking about football here but it could be in any job.

“If someone bigger comes for you and says ‘this is going to be your place of work for the next few years’ I think a lot of people would say ‘I’d rather do that’.

“It’s just the way it is. It’s a shame but what can we do?

“The Premier League rulings have been put in place.

“We are a category two club, we will strive and endeavour to get to category one eventually because I think it is fitting for our club.

“We will get there when we get there and there is no use us rushing there when we are not ready for it.”

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