The Stoke City manager, Tony Pulis, has held further clear-the-air talks with James Beattie following their post-match clash in the dressing rooms at Arsenal on Saturday, though the striker's future at the Britannia Stadium remains in considerable doubt.
Stoke's hierarchy are to conduct an internal investigation into the ugly scenes in the wake of the 2-0 defeat at the Emirates when tempers flared after Pulis confirmed he expected the squad to report back for training on Monday morning as normal. It is understood that Beattie objected, apparently on the players' behalf, having hoped the team would be given 48 hours off following their Christmas party in London on Saturday night, with Pulis reacting furiously to the player's response.
The pair squared up and allegedly punches were thrown before a masseur dragged the manager away. The root of the disagreement appears to have been a misunderstanding given that Beattie, who had been organising the celebrations for the past few weeks under the impression that the players would be given two days off after the event, was convinced Pulis had changed the schedule as a result of the loss to Arsenal. The manager denies that any agreement had been made and would not countenance a change to the usual schedule following the defeat.
Some clarification was offered in a meeting between the manager and the 31-year-old . Yet, so violent was the clash between the two, it could be doubtful that the rift can now be repaired. While the first-team squad reported back as required at 10am, Beattie did not train with his team-mates at the club's Clayton Wood centre. Instead, he arrived at the complex at around midday only to leave some 30 minutes later to undertake his own work-out at the Britannia Stadium gymnasium.
Stoke will seek to clarify what happened in the dressing room by conducting their own inquiry before deciding whether any internal sanctions are to be imposed or, indeed, whether Beattie's future at the club should now be scrutinised. The club fined another of their forwards, Ricardo Fuller, some £20,000 after he slapped his team-mate Andy Griffin during a 2-1 defeat at West Ham United last season and may now pursue a similar course of action in this case. "As far as the club is concerned, this is an internal matter," said the chairman, Peter Coates. "It will be dealt with internally."
Beattie, considered one of the senior members of the squad despite having been at the club for only a year, believed he had been the victim of an unprovoked attack by Pulis. While the pair spoke on Sunday and again at the training ground, the forward could yet seek a move away from the Potteries in next month's transfer window.
The striker arrived for £3.5m from Sheffield United midway through last season and his seven goals in 16 games were instrumental in hoisting Stoke to an admirable 12th place finish in their first season back in the top flight since 1985. However, he has been troubled by injuries this season and has scored twice in 15 appearances to date, his last start coming in the 1-0 victory over Portsmouth on 22 November. He had been summoned from the bench for the last 28 minutes of Saturday's loss at the Emirates.
