Hibernian defender Sol Bamba has reacted angrily after manager John Hughes criticised him for failing to join up with the squad at their training camp in Holland.
Hughes last week expressed his "disappointment" at Bamba's delayed return from World Cup duty with the Ivory Coast, adding: "I'm sure many people will feel let down."
But Bamba insists he had requested an extended break following the tournament, and told the Daily Record: "I'm angry about the way the club made this public. I have never cheated anyone at Hibs, I've always given everything for the team. The manager knows that, too."
He added: "I tried to speak with the manager and the chairman to explain the situation. My agent also phoned them to ask if I could have some extra time off.
"Since last May, I haven't had a break and I wanted three weeks off after the World Cup to recharge. I played something like 59 games for Hibs last season, plus the African Nations Cup and then in South Africa.
"(On the way back) we were stuck in an airport for two days in Africa and I didn't get back to Paris until July 1. Hibs were expecting me to return to Scotland barely 10 days later on July 12. I don't know why they now told the papers I was supposed to be back on the 19th, I never agreed to that either.
"I'm very disappointed. The manager played the game, he knows how it is and the chairman has been in football a long time. I expected more support."
Despite the dispute, Bamba stressed his commitment to the club by adding: "I get back to Edinburgh at the weekend and I am looking forward to speaking with the club about everything that's happened. They may want to punish me with a fine but we can speak about that.
"I've even been working with a fitness coach in Paris to make sure I'm 100 per cent. I'm a Hibs player and I'll come back and be ready to work as hard as ever for the club."
Hughes refused to be drawn into the argument, saying: "I have not read the comments and I would not even go there. We will deal with it when he comes in and I'll speak with him face to face. I'm not going to conduct it through the newspapers."
Source: PA
