Paul Hayes’ departure from The Valley was no surprise. Chris Powell told Hayes and fellow frontman, Leon Clarke, they were free to leave the club several weeks ago.

Hayes’ wages would have been a problem for most of the clubs interested in him. Bees manager, Uwe Rosler, thought the move was dead last week. There would have been negotiations between Charlton and the player and he was probably given a free transfer to enable him to secure a suitable contract elsewhere.

Paul was the victim of Chris Powell’s spectacularly successful gamble on Yann Kermorgant last season. Hayes began the campaign alongside Bradley Wright-Phillips, starting in the first eleven league matches, scoring three goals.

Kermorgant made his debut as a substitute for Hayes in the game against Chesterfield at The Valley, and also replaced him in the games at Milton Keynes, where he netted the equaliser, and Bramall Lane, where he opened the scoring against the Blades with his first touch. After that, the clamour for the Frenchman’s inclusion in the starting line-up was irrestible.

Hayes was restricted to bench duties thereafter, and was allowed to join Wycombe later in the season, where he enjoyed a successful loan spell.

Recalled to The Valley in late March, when Kermorgant was taken ill on the eve of the Huddersfield match, Hayes made his final start in a Charlton shirt at the Galpharm.

In total, he made 15 appearances in all competitions for the Addicks plus a further 7 from the bench, scoring three goals.

The freeing up of a wage will allow Powell to bring in a replacement, possibly former Stoke striker, Ricardo Fuller. It had been widely rumoured that the Jamaican had undergone a medical over the weekend but thus far, no annoucement has been made.

Charlton recorded a 1-0 win in the opening match of the new Under-21 competition. Joe Pigott missed a penalty for the hosts but the Addicks were awarded a second spot-kick late on, which was despatched with aplomb by Cedric Evina.