TheNewOrleansHammer
17 Dec 2004, 05:57 PM
Charlton defender Chris Powell was given a glowing tribute from Alan Curbishley after finally completing his free transfer to West Ham.
The former England international, 35, has made his move to Upton Park permanent after impressing during a three-month loan spell with the Championship club.
Curbishley decided he could no longer guarantee Powell first-team football with Hermann Hreidarsson and Paul Konchesky ahead of him in the pecking order at The Valley.
But the manager was quick to praise the former Derby full-back for the contribution he has made during six successful years.
Curbishley said: "Chris has done fantastically well for us and was a great servant to this club. He broke into the England team while he was here and won his caps while he was a Charlton player.
"But at his age he wants and needs first-team football and really since he signed his new contract in the summer we have not been able to give him that."
The former England international, 35, has made his move to Upton Park permanent after impressing during a three-month loan spell with the Championship club.
Curbishley decided he could no longer guarantee Powell first-team football with Hermann Hreidarsson and Paul Konchesky ahead of him in the pecking order at The Valley.
But the manager was quick to praise the former Derby full-back for the contribution he has made during six successful years.
Curbishley said: "Chris has done fantastically well for us and was a great servant to this club. He broke into the England team while he was here and won his caps while he was a Charlton player.
"But at his age he wants and needs first-team football and really since he signed his new contract in the summer we have not been able to give him that."