James Beattie has instigated grievance procedures against Tony Pulis following allegations in December that the Stoke City manager physically attacked the striker in the dressing room after the match against Arsenal.
Beattie had been upset with the way in which the club handled the episode at the time, when there were erroneous suggestions that he had apologised for his part in the fracas, and the Guardian has since learned that he has submitted an official complaint about Pulis that has left Stoke with little option but to set up an internal investigation to establish exactly what went on following the 2-0 defeat at the Emirates.
It is understood that all those present, when Beattie and Pulis became embroiled in a row about the players' Christmas night out, have been asked to provide their account of the events. Pulis has never been willing to divulge any details publicly, insisting "whatever happens in the dressing room stays in the dressing room", although it has been alleged that he headbutted Beattie after taking offence at a remark from the player.
Beattie, whose seven goals in 16 appearances helped Stoke to survive in the Premier League last season, has made only two starts for the club since the Arsenal game and was close to joining Fulham at the end of the transfer window only for the deal to fall through at the last minute. Had that move gone through it seems likely that the issue would have gone away but instead Stoke have been forced to investigate a matter that Pulis claimed "a line has been drawn under" more than three months ago.
Peter Coates, the Stoke chairman, said that the investigation was ongoing. "It has not been concluded. It's still in process," he said. "I have not been closely involved. But we have set up the right procedure and done it by the book. We are dealing with it in what we feel is the right and proper manner. It disappoints me that it has been leaked."
Beattie's decision to lodge an official grievance against Pulis will have placed many of the Stoke players in an awkward position. Club sources have suggested the motivation behind his complaint is to receive an apology from Pulis which he believes is long overdue but for that to happen his team-mates would have to speak out against the manager and run the risk of compromising their own future at the club.
With Beattie currently sidelined with a knee injury and less than two months of the season remaining, the latest development suggests that he is unlikely to pull on a Stoke shirt again. Coates, however, disagrees. "He's our player," said the Stoke chairman. "He's got to get on and play for us and that's what he's paid for. I expect him to play for us. I hope he's got a long way to go in his career."
