It is possible that the release bearing is still in there. It would have come away with the gearbox - attached to the release lever. You may not have noticed it because the rest of the clutch is on the engine side.
The symptoms you describe are classic for a knackered release bearing.
If the clutch is actually working (i.e. you can select first and drive away) it must still be in there. Liberace can thankfully stay in heaven...