ASVEL coach Erman Kunter believes Karim Souchu was not mature enough to play with a team like the Pro A side after parting company with the player.

Both Souchu and the club reached an agreement on Tuesday to break his contract which was running until June 2006.

Souchu was last year's best scorer for ASVEL with an average of 12.9 points per game.

He also started the 2004-05 campaign in superb form, scoring 18,6 points per match after five ties, before experiencing a lapse of form which proved fatal for the forward as coach Kunter gradually left him on the sidelines.

"There was no personal problem with Karim," said Kunter, "it's just that he wanted more time of play.

"We tried to give him some. At the start of the season he played well but when the Euroleague started he did not play well anymore.

"We gave him a lot of opportunities, we talked a lot, he showed good things but he did not succeed.

"I think he was not ready to play both competitions.

"The separation is a good thing for the player and the club."

On Wednesday Souchu admitted he had contacts abroad and could join Belgian side Liege.

ASVEL meanwhile are now looking for his replacement.

"Souchu's departure means this is one commitment less for the club next campaign since Karim was linked to us for another year and a half," added Kunter in L'Equipe.

"We are now looking for a versatile player who can attack, strike and break our rivals' defence.

"But this is not easy. A team like Benetton Treviso are also looking for the same type of player but they have not yet found one either."