ROB Elliot’s failure to agree a new deal with Charlton prompted this week’s capture of Ben Hamer from Reading, manager Chris Powell has revealed.

Elliot has been the regular number one at The Valley but after Hamer’s arrival it was confirmed he would be wearing number 44 this season.

Powell was quick to point out no significance should be attached to that, but added he couldn’t afford to risk losing Elliot on a free transfer next summer, something which would have left him with one senior keeper in John Sullivan.

The manager explained: “Rob Elliot is one of three goalkeepers that we have in our squad.

“We have been in discussions with Rob and his advisors since the end of last season and it has been on-going.

“The problem is he is over 24 and is a keeper we could lose for nothing at the end of the season.

“He is a player that if someone came in for him today, with all my plans with him being our keeper he could walk out and then I would be left with one senior keeper, so I’m really looking out for my team, my squad and my football club.

“I don’t want to be caught out by the player who could quite easily walk out for a relatively low fee because if he doesn’t want to agree, or can’t agree with the club over a contract, I’ve got to look after the welfare of this football club and my team and make sure I am not caught out.

“So I’ve bought in a keeper who is one of three and it was Rob’s decision to choose whatever number he wants.

“He chose 44 but that doesn't mean he is not our number one.

“It’s not like the old days you can put a team of 11 players out without any of them wearing one to 11. It doesn’t mean one to11 is your first XI anymore, we all know that’s how football is now.”

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