Oxford United manager Malcolm Shotton and centre back Phil Gilchrist have denied a report that there was a bust-up between the two of them on the players' end-of-season holiday in Cyprus last month.

It is alleged that a row developed one evening and Gilchrist was so put out by it it that when he returned to the UK, he demanded an apology or to be put on the transfer list.

However, Shotton insisted: "There's nothing in it, it's absolute garbage. And I'd like to know who's been spreading malicious rumours - because that's all they are."

The manager added that Gilchrist was the last person in his team he'd want to lose.

"I like Gilly and I rate him very highly," Shotton said. "I'd sell anyone before him, if I had to sell."

Gilchrist, asked in to see Shotton at the Manor Ground yesterday after just arriving back from a two-week holiday in Tenerife, denied asking to go on the list and claimed he knew nothing of any bust-up.

"There's been no problem whatsoever," he stated.

"It was a really good trip, everyone enjoyed themselves."

Shotton added: "It was one of the best trips I've been on with players.

"I have been on trips where things have happened but there wasn't a single problem and the only incident, if you could call it that, was when Mike Ford got a cut above the ear after hitting it on a wide screen that was being used to show matches in the hotel.

"Quite honestly, all the players were a credit to Oxford United Football Club."

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