Kent paceman Matt Coles has left the club after turning down the offer of a new contract.

Despite enduring a chequered season on and off the field, the 23-year-old former England Lions fast bowler had been offered an extended stay at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, but it emerged on Thursday that he is pursuing a move away from the LV= County Championship Division 2 side.

Kent chairman of cricket Graham Johnson said: "Having seen Matt develop through the Kent system with all the support that this has provided him, it is disappointing that he feels he needs to go elsewhere in search of a way to deliver to his potential.

"We wish him well and are now focused on developing our squad of players who have a desire to play for Kent and have the same vision.”

The Maidstone-born all-rounder made his maiden championship century at Yorkshire at the start of the 2012 season and has racked-up 50 first class appearances since making his debut four years ago, receiving his county cap last summer. He has also taken 133 first-class wickets with a further 83 in List A and t20 matches.

Coles hit the headlines at the start of the year when he was sent home in disgrace from the England Lions tour of Australia, along with Durham's Ben Stokes, for breaches of discipline.

He has also spent a spell on the sidelines this summer due to 'personal reasons' and loan signing Mitchell Claydon, Mark Davies, Charlie Shreck and Callum Haggett have all been preferred in four-day cricket.

Coles' last championship appearance came in the drawn game at Hampshire at the start of June, though he has been included in the Yorkshire Bank 40 and t20 sides since.

He has taken 13 championship wickets at an average of over 42 this summer with 15 more at an average of 24 in 40-over competition and eight at an average of 34 in t20 cricket.

His last appearance came in the ill-fated defeat against Warwickshire Bears last Thursday where he recorded figures of 0-42 from his six overs.