Charlton Athletic goalkeeping coach leaves for Brighton & Hove Albion

Goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts has swapped Charlton Athletic for fellow Championship outfit Brighton & Hove Albion.

The 40-year-old leaves the Addicks after four-and-a-half years in South London to join the Seagulls.

"It's been nearly five years, I've had some absolutely brilliant times and made friends for life," Roberts told the club website.

"The time was right for me to move and start something fresh."

Roberts spent three years with Charlton as a player between 2000 and 2003 and now returns to another of his former clubs in Brighton, whom he joined from the Addicks 12 years ago.

"I'm ecstatic to be back at Brighton," he told the Seagulls' website. "I've made no secret that my happiest years as a professional footballer were spent down here, as I had a special affinity with the fans at Withdean."

Roberts replaces Antti Niemi at The Amex after the former Fulham and Southampton man returned to Finland for family reasons.