Clarke gives take on Odemwingie saga
West Brom manager Steve Clarke has acknowledged he would have conducted himself differently to the way QPR have handled the Peter Odemwingie transfer saga.
Odemwingie was so convinced he was moving to Rangers on deadline day that he turned up at Loftus Road without permission from the Baggies. But no transfer went through as a player-plus-cash deal - believed to involve Junior Hoilett - could not be agreed with QPR.
Clarke said: "We spoke about the possibility of doing a player-plus-cash deal. I won't speak about the player. I won't speak about players from other clubs but it didn't happen and there was no way Peter could go out of the building without us having a replacement. I think it's fair to say the time we realised we couldn't get a replacement for Peter there was no point in letting him go out of the building."
When asked how much responsibility QPR and their manager Harry Redknapp had for how events panned out, Clarke initially said: "I don't discuss other clubs' business. My job is to work for West Bromwich Albion.
"Other managers have their way of working. I have my way of working."
But when asked how he thought Rangers had gone about their business, the Scot added: "I know that I wouldn't work that way. I know that I would conduct myself differently. That's all I can say."
Clarke, whose side host Tottenham on Sunday, insists Odemwingie has not played his last game for the club.
He said: "Myself, Peter, board members Dan Ashworth and Richard Garlick had a meeting this (Friday) morning and that is the start of the process.
"Peter is not in the right frame of mind to be involved this weekend and he has been given permission to go back home. He will then come back when we decide the time is right for him to start training.
"There always has to be a way back. There are examples of high-profile cases where there has been a way back. It won't happen overnight but he is part of my squad and hopefully we will get to a situation sometime in the future where there is a resolution and Peter can help West Brom."
