West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Clarke has branded television presenter Adrian Chiles "stupid" for aiming a jibe at striker Peter Odemwingie at the weekend.
Chiles labelled Nigerian Odemwingie a "t**t" at the club's end-of-season awards on Sunday, referring to his failed bid to join Queens Park rangers.
Chiles said: "Our fourth award of the evening is for ‘tweet of the year’... Oh, no, sorry it’s ‘t**t of the year’ - and the winner is Peter Odemwingie."
A sheepish Odemwingie at QPR's training ground in January
In January, Odemwingie drove to QPR's training ground on deadline day in a bid to force through a transfer in a move which, at the time, resembled someone trying to get a ticket for the Titanic.
Odemwingie was not granted entry to the doomed Rs' base and had to drive back to the midlands, where he was fined for his conduct by an infuriated Clarke.
Clarke is unhappy about Chiles' attempt at humour
Although he has not played for the Baggies since 30 March, 31-year-old Odemwingie is believed to be upset by Chiles' taunt and Clarke said the ITV football anchor "should know better".
Chiles at the Hawthorns back in January
"It was out of order," Clarke said. "It was a ridiculous comment to make. I didn't like it. I didn't say anything about it at the time but I'm saying it now – it was a stupid comment. It was out of place – it was a West Bromwich Albion awards night. There was no place for that kind of comment. It was a throwaway line from somebody who should know better. Peter's one of my players. I've said it all season, I protect my players fiercely; that's why I didn't like it. There wasn't time to saying anything [about it] on the night."
An 800-strong crowd at the Birmingham ICC reacted with disbelief at the West Brom fan's ad-lib.
West Brom have fined Odemwingie, a notorious ranter on Twitter, since his first indiscretion and he is likely to leave the club in the summer. The 31 year-old has one year left on his £38,000 a week contract.