Carlton Cole admits that his future lies away from West Ham United after struggling for regular first team football this season.

Cole was very close to sealing his departure from West Ham during the January transfer window after agreeing to join West Bromwich Albion.

However, the Hammers pulled the plug on the deal at the last minute and the striker was forced to stay put at Upton Park.

Despite being forced to remain in east London, the 31-year old has found first team football hard to come by and now he has admitted that as a result, a move away from the club is likely during the upcoming summer.

Speaking at the fund-raising reception for the 'Football Fighting Ebola' campaign, Cole said: "I thought I'd get more game time but it hasn't worked out. I need to start games.

"I had the opportunity to go to West Brom, as was well publicised, and that was a great opportunity for me to go and play games but West Ham still felt they needed me so I came back.

"I've just tried to get on with my job and I will see where I lie in the summer but I do need games. I need to be integral to a team, I'm at that stage of my career where I've done a lot and now I want to enjoy my football.

"I don't want to be a bit-part player, you can get a youth team player to do that. I need to play. People say footballers get well paid to sit on the bench I don't want to sit on the bench. It has been a long time since I've been integral to a team and I need that in my life."