Powell stays at the Valley

Charlton defender Chris Powell has agreed a one-year extension to his contract.

The 34-year-old, capped five times by England, joined the Addicks from Derby for £825,000 (€1.2m) in 1998 and is hoping to help Alan Curbishley’s side improve on last season’s seventh-placed finish.

Powell told the club’s official website, www.cafc.co.uk: “I’ve really enjoyed my time at Charlton and I’m looking forward to that continuing this season.

“It’s taken a while to actually make things official but that’s only because of various conflicting holidays during the summer. I said at the end of last season that I was sure I would be here this year.

"There was never a problem.

“It’s my 19th pre-season but I’m excited about another year in the Premiership, but more important is that we build on that seventh-placed finish with another successful campaign.

“The club was very successful last season, when we finished in our highest position for 50 years, but let’s not rest on that.”

Meanwhile, midfielder Graham Stuart will remain with the club for another year, despite reports that his deal expired at the end of last season.

There is a clause within his contract which automatically entitles him to another year after he appeared in a certain number of matches last season.