TOKYO — One more year and Bobby Valentine and the Chiba Lotte Marines will go their separate ways.

The former New York Mets manager said today the Japanese team has decided not to offer him a contract extension after his four-year deal expires following the 2009 season.

"They just wanted to go in a different direction," Valentine said. "They wanted to change things and I certainly understand that."

The 58-year-old Valentine guided the Marines to the franchise's first Japan Series championship in 31 years in 2005 and became a fan favorite. The team missed the playoffs with a fourth-place finish this season.

Valentine, who guided the Mets to the World Series in 2000, was one of three foreign managers in Japanese baseball last season.