Albion ace Bednar: I'm so sorry

He also pleaded for his future at The Hawthorns after being pictured in a newspaper apparently handing over cash for cocaine and cannabis.

Albion suspended the £12,000-a-week 26-year-old before yesterday's home match with Liverpool and officials launched an internal inquiry today – less than 24 hours after they were relegated from the Premier League.

A statement from The Czech Republic international said: "I am sorry and deeply regretful for the stories that have emerged in the press and the embarrassment and negative publicity it has brought to the directors, players and staff and all the supporters.

"My biggest disappointment today is of the team's relegation to the Championship and sincerely I hope to have the opportunity to help the club regain promotion next season."

Bednar has two seasons left on a Hawthorns contract worth more than £5,000 a week in the Championship. A Sunday tabloid claimed Bednar set up a deal by text after last Saturday's home win against Wigan and paid £420 for drugs outside his home in Sutton Coldfield.

His fiancé Deniz Askinova, who he met in Prague last summer and has since moved into his home, was said to have paid £360 for more drugs later last week.

Bednar said the drugs had been for someone else. A statement from Albion said: "Roman Bednar has been suspended by the club while it carried out an internal investigation into the matter. A West Midlands Police spokesman said today: "We are aware of the content and allegations contained within the newspaper article and are looking into the claims made."