THE focus may be on matters concerning the Charlton first team as the big Premiership kick off draws ever nearer, but that hasn't stopped the forward-thinking club from continuing to build for the future.

The club's renowned academy department - responsible for the emergence of the likes of Scott Parker, Paul Konchesky and Jonathan Fortune in recent years - already has a vast scouting network across Europe.

This includes a tie-in with Finnish Premier Division club MyPa 47, as well as various youth initiatives in Spain and even as far afield as America and New Zealand.

But Charlton have now made their biggest commitment yet - joining forces with Chinese club Shanghai Zobon.

The Addicks have signed a five-year agreement with the Super League outfit to establish a massive state-of-the-art youth set-up in the heart of Shanghai that will be called the Zobon Charlton Football Academy.

As well as the possibility of producing stars of the future, the deal will also enhance the reputation of the Premiership club in what is one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

Charlton chief executive Peter Varney said: "We are joining an elite group of European clubs, such as Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United, who are seeking the enormous player, commericial and branding opportunities that can be secured from a presence in China - a country where there is enormous interest in the top European leagues.

"This is a key element of the international strategy for our football club."

One of the three clubs situated in Shanghai, Zobon won promotion to the top flight for the first time last year and are currently midway through their 26-game season.

The deal comes only a matter of days after Charlton became the first Premiership club outside the top four to market their television rights to international broadcasters with the introduction of Charlton Athletic TV.

And Mr Varney added: "We may not currently be able to compete on the international stage with the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool, but the steps we are taking - coupled with the initiatives already underway - have started us on a long journey from which the benefits will hopefully be realised in the years to come."

Academy boss and former Addicks player Steve Gritt was among a number of Charlton officials who travelled to Shanghai for the official launch, and he was very impressed with the facilities currently available to the Zobon youngsters.

"We've had a look at the operation and it is quite impressive already," said Charlton's fifth all-time appearance maker.

"We were taken to see the kids training, and there were three or four teams playing some small-sided games, and I didn't think they would be so developed.

"The boys stay on site from 15 to 19-years-old, do education in the morning and football every afternoon.

"They also have their own gymnaisium so to think this is phase one, and a completely new academy will be built, is very impressive indeed."