KEVIN Lisbie has told News Shopper his release from Charlton earlier this week came as no surprise.

The 28-year-old striker has spent all of his career at The Valley aside from a couple of loan spells, and now faces the prospect of a permanent life away from the club.

He said: "I knew a long time ago this was going to happen. Alan Pardew spoke to me earlier in the summer and said there was something on the table if I wanted it.

"What I was after wasn't on offer, so I knew from then on I wouldn't be staying."

Lisbie, who made 178 appearances for Charlton since making his debut in 1996, says the huge change in personnel at the club in the past year made his decision to move on much easier.

He added: "Everyone I knew has already gone. If I still had a lot of friends there then I think the decision to move might have been harder to make."

Charlton's squad returned for pre-season training yesterday and Lisbie, a veteran of life at Sparrows Lane, admitted it was strange not being there this time around.

He said: "I've been trying to avoid things like Sky Sports because pre-season is all they are talking about at the moment.

"It was weird not being there, but I've kept myself in shape and am hoping to find another Championship club by the start of next week."