Charlton furious with Smertin sale - March 15, 2006
Charlton are furious with Alexei Smertin's move last week to Dynamo Moscow.
Murray said: "No words can adequately express how angry and disappointed we are that the player felt unable to honour his obligations to us, especially with so many important games coming up."
Among the matches is an FA Cup quarter-final at home to Middlesbrough. Murray said Charlton and Chelsea agreed to sanction the deal, which is thought to have earned Chelsea about £1m, when Smertin made it clear he wanted to go to "secure his future and be reunited with his family". The midfielder's move falls within the Russian transfer window.
"We have done everything possible to persuade the player to stay but there is little point in keeping a player when he is so determined to leave," Murray said. "We also have to take account of the effect on all the other players at the club who are committed to us and what we are trying to achieve here."
Murray said: "No words can adequately express how angry and disappointed we are that the player felt unable to honour his obligations to us, especially with so many important games coming up."
Among the matches is an FA Cup quarter-final at home to Middlesbrough. Murray said Charlton and Chelsea agreed to sanction the deal, which is thought to have earned Chelsea about £1m, when Smertin made it clear he wanted to go to "secure his future and be reunited with his family". The midfielder's move falls within the Russian transfer window.
"We have done everything possible to persuade the player to stay but there is little point in keeping a player when he is so determined to leave," Murray said. "We also have to take account of the effect on all the other players at the club who are committed to us and what we are trying to achieve here."
