West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace does not believe his absence from transfer talks was behind Madjid Bougherra's decision to snub the club.The Algeria defender signed for Rangers in a £2.5million deal last Wednesday having at one stage looked certain to join the Baggies from Charlton.

Bougherra, 25, claimed that a major reason for his decision to shun West Brom was Peace's failure to be present at the training ground at a crucial stage of negotiations.

But Peace has said: "It is a nonsense for anyone to suggest a transfer cannot be processed simply because I am not in attendance.

"I was away from the office for a few hours on Wednesday afternoon but I was available by phone and there were two directors present who could have completed the deal if it had been possible to do so.

"Terms had been agreed with the player but we were still not in a position to complete the deal at that time.

"We were waiting for Charlton to return a signed transfer agreement between the two clubs and were still awaiting the results of the player's medical, which we knew would not arrive until Thursday morning.

"It was agreed by all parties that the player and his representatives would return the following afternoon to complete the transfer in the event of a positive verdict from the medical and the player also resolving his contractual issues with Charlton on Thursday morning.

"However, the player and his representatives did not return the following day and we were later informed that he had decided to join Rangers, with whom he had also been in discussions."

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