Former Chelsea player Gavin Peacock has clarified his religious views on marriage after he sparked controversy on Twitter for claiming that women should 'submit' to their husbands.

The 47-year-old delivered his thoughts on marriage via the social networking website and stated how men and women should behave in a union.

After his tweets attracted attention, Peacock, who is now a Pastor of the Calvary Grace Church in Canada, wrote in a blog post: "It seems that recent tweets I made about biblical manhood, womanhood and marriage have gained attention in the UK. Several national newspapers picked up these tweets and there was reaction from both Christians and non-Christians. Some people were very upset; others were very encouraged.

"Indeed this is a sensitive issue today, like never before. Definitions of what it is to be a man or a woman and definitions of marriage are changing in society. But they have not changed in the Bible. I am a Christian and a pastor of Calvary Grace Church of Calgary and we believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God, which is sufficient for all things.

"We also hold to a 'complementarian' view of the Scriptures when it comes to sexuality. Complementarity is the view that God has assigned different and complementary roles to men and women within marriage and the church. In this view, men bear a unique authority and responsibility before God for leadership."

Peacock, who also played for Newcastle United in his career, retired from football in 2002.