Clement retires

IT was appropriate that Neil Clement's last competitive game came at QPR.

He became the first Albion player to win promotion for the third time, he became an official champion, he was playing against the club where his late father was so revered, he was to make his 300th appearance for the club.

It all fell nicely into place.

Clement today officially announced his retirement.

It was no surprise. For some time we'd feared the worst.

The dejection in Roberto Di Matteo's voice when he spoke of Clement's prospects, Eddie Newton sympathising, Michael Appleton expressing hope that 'Clem' wouldn't be lost to football if he failed to recover from his injury. They all knew what he was going through.

His retirement closes the page on the last decade - in a snapshot of the Noughties, Clem's presence would be prevalent.

As a footballer we saw him start as a left-back, become a centre-half, evolve into a left wing-back, return to left-back, back to centre-half (earning himself a 5-year deal, such was his form) and occasionally find himself shoe-horned into midfield or even, on one occasion, up front. He had a left foot which many wingers would kill for.

Albion's current squad is very much a new order. This season has seen the departures of Greening, Robinson and now, finally, the retirement of Clement - such has been the turnover of players that Robert Koren is now the longest-serving player.

Clem will be staying around the club, helping out with the academy and the sports science department.

Even so, his presence on the pitch will be missed by Albion fans, players, staff and the media who dealt with him over the years.

Let's hope that the club do the decent thing and grant the 31-year-old some form of testimonial.

Given his former links and those of Albion's current coaching staff, dare I say someone ought to put in a call to Chelsea to see how they're fixed this summer...