Odemwingie Reveals How He Was Prepared To Pay His Way Out Of West Brom

Exiled West Bromwich Albion forward Peter Odemwingie has hit back at West Brom fans who have labelled him greedy, insisting his attempts to leave the club were not led by money.

In an interview with the Birmingham Mail, the forward also shed light on the astonishing events that unfolded on transfer deadline in January, insisting he offered to fund his proposed move to Queens Park Rangers out of his own pocket, such was his desperation to leave West Brom.

Once a revered character at the Hawthorns, Odemwingie infamously burnt his bridges with the club on the final day of January when he attempted to seal a move to Loftus Road.

The Nigerian international has not started a game for Steve Clarke's side since the debacle, and is almost certain to leave the club in the coming months. But despite the acrimonious circumstances surrounding the last four months of his West Brom career, Odemwingie insists his motives were not driven by money.

"I want to address this greed issue now," the 31-year-old said. "I was on big money in Russia before I came to Albion. I wanted to achieve my dream playing in the Russian league - what I dreamt as a kid.

"But my main aim was to play in the Premier League and when I moved to Albion I took a pay cut of more than three times what I could have earned.

"I had an offer to sign for Panathinkaikos in Greeve for a huge amount of money but I have already made enough money for myself. I came from Moscow earning tax free money.

"Taking these songs every five minutes from West Brom fans 'you greedy *******... I'm already sick of it. First of all, I don't need to be greedy."

The former Lokomotiv Moscow forward was widely condemned for choosing to leave West Brom - who were chasing a Europa League spot at the time - for QPR in January. When it emerged that Odemwingie has travelled down to London without the permission of the Baggies, disdain amongst the Baggies fans grew exponentially.

But Odemwingie believes the misunderstanding was not his fault. In the lengthy interview, the forward explained that he felt the time was right to leave the Hawthorns after his relationship with some individuals within the club deteriorated to a level where he could not cope.

In January, a £3 million bid from Harry Redknapp's side appeared to offer him a lifeline, and the Nigerian revealed that he was willing to help the fund the move himself; such was his determination to leave.

"There was a £3 million bid from QPR then on January 31<sup>st Albion offered me a solution," Odemwingie added.

"They said if QPR were prepared to go to £3.5 million and I topped that up with £700,000 out my wages as part of the deal to make it up to £4.2 million, then it can go ahead.

"I agreed and by doing this it made the terms I would have received at QPR less than those in Albion. I was also aware that the terms would be reduced if they went down to the Championship."

The West Brom forward added that he would have been willing to pay more of his own money to push through a move to Loftus Road, but instead was kept in the dark until the transfer window eventually closed.

West Brom's impressive first half of the campaign has ensured that the club have been free from the relegation concerns that have engulfed almost every club in the bottom half of the league.

Sitting comfortably in 8<sup>th, the Baggies will see out the remainder of a successful campaign in games against Norwich City and Manchester United, but the exiled Odemwingie is unlikely to feature in either.