Clarke slams Adrian Chiles for Odemwingie remark at West Brom awards

West Brom manager Steve Clarke has blasted Adrian Chiles after labelling striker Peter Odemwingie a "t**t" during the club's end-of-season awards ceremony.

Chiles, a TV presenter and lifelong Baggies fan, hosted the event and openly tore into the striker following public criticism of the club on Twitter throughout the second half of the season.

"Our fourth award of the evening is for 'tweet of the year'. Oh no, sorry, it's 'tw*t of the year' and the winner is Peter Odemwingie," Chiles said.

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Odemwingie did not attend the dinner after being given special permission by Clarke, but the West Brom boss could not hide his disappointment at the comments made by the face of ITV's football coverage.

He told reporters: "It was out of order and it was a ridiculous comment to make. I didn't like it. It was a stupid comment and was out of place.

"It was a throw away line from someone who should know better. It was a West Bromwich Albion awards night. There was no place for that type of comment. You go to an event like that to celebrate the season.

"Peter is one of my players and I protect my players fiercely so I didn't like it. He had permission from me not to go. I respect the fact he didn't want to go."

Odemwingie was fined and dropped by West Brom after failing to engineer a move to QPR in January, but Clarke dismissed the notion the Nigerian has been alienated at the club.

He added: "He is not frozen out, I don't do that to my players. My relationship with Peter and all the players is good.

"He has been waiting patiently for his opportunity. I think that opportunity will probably come between now and the end of the season and he is fired up."