Clark berates Zigic after ‘worst training session’

NIKOLA Zigic has been omitted from Birmingham’s matchday squad for today’s npower Championship clash at home to Watford after manager Lee Clark accused him of turning in “the worst training session I have ever come across”.

Clark has been angered by Zigic’s work ethic and attitude at the club’s Wast Hills training base and has not held back in his criticism of the towering Serbian striker, who still earns a reported £50,000-plus per week following Blues’ relegation from the Barclays Premier League.

Zigic, 32, has been used sparingly by Clark this season, making nine starts and 13 substitute appearances during which he has scored six goals. But he will not get the chance to add to that tally against Watford at St Andrew’s, where he would probably have started as Marlon King is unlikely to feature due to a knee injury. Clark said: “I witnessed possibly the worst training session in terms of a professional footballer I have ever come across on Thursday. We did our preparation work for Watford and he [Zigic] was in the team. And I was disgusted when I walked off. I need to tell the fans before the game because, obviously, the social media network will go into overload because of this. I know he’s quite popular.

“But ultimately he’s a very well paid guy and you’ve got to earn that. And what he dished up yesterday was, since I left school at 16 and been a professional footballer, the worst I have seen. And this is not the first time.

“This has been coming. Now, whether he has been angry he hasn’t been starting enough games over the previous weeks, that could be a point. But does that mean you just basically down tools, don’t try? I think the fans deserve more than that, the football club deserves more than that. I am an honest man and I need to be honest with everyone. And there will be people who disagree and say this is a crazy thing. But what am I meant to do? Am I meant to accept that, just let people do that? I know I have made the right decision.”

Zigic joined Blues from Valencia on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2010, with the highlight of his City career to date being his headed opener in City’s memorable 2-1 Carling Cup triumph over Arsenal at Wembley in 2011.