West Brom criticise Odemwingie
West Bromwich Albion have criticised their striker Peter Odemwingie for driving to Queens Park Rangers on transfer deadline day in a vain bid to join the London club.
The Nigeria striker was pictured on Sky Sports television station sitting outside QPR's Loftus Road Stadium in his car, apparently in the belief that West Brom had agreed to sell him to their Premier League rivals.
However, QPR reportedly refused to let him enter their premises and West Brom reacted by rebuking the 31-year-old for his conduct.
"Albion can confirm that no agreement was reached with QPR over the transfer of Peter Odemwingie before the closure of the January window and that the striker remains under contract at The Hawthorns," read a club statement.
"The club were extremely disappointed to witness TV footage of Odemwingie arriving at Loftus Road on Thursday evening despite further talks between the two Premier League sides proving fruitless.
"Odemwingie was also never given permission to speak to QPR about a potential move."
West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace said: "Peter has acted wholly unprofessionally. He must now accept the fact he remains under contract for a further 18 months and has to focus on his Albion commitments."
Interviewed by Sky Sports News during his in-car vigil, Odemwingie appeared to suggest he considered himself a QPR player.
"It's fine. West Brom was my home but this is a new chapter. I love West Brom and always will," he told a reporter.
"I am optimistic. A few good players have arrived here (at QPR) and I am happy with the trust (QPR manager) Harry Redknapp has in me.
"The last few results have given us a chance to stay up. I don't think the owners will bring in so many players if they don't think it will happen.
"I hope West Brom are happy with what they will get and they hope to get players themselves."
Redknapp, who did bring Christopher Samba, Jermaine Jenas and Andros Townsend to QPR on Thursday, the latter two on loan deals, said he sympathised with Odemwingie.
"I think he probably felt that the deal had been agreed between the clubs and it hadn't and it was all a mix-up really," said Redknapp.
"I feel sorry for the lad and the way the whole thing's turned out. It wasn't any of our doing.
"I think he was maybe advised that he should turn up here and that the club had made an offer and the offer had been accepted. The wires got crossed somewhere."
Odemwingie joined West Brom from Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow in 2010 and has since scored 19 goals in 53 games for the club.
