The details emerged on the same day Stoke manager Tony Pulis prepares to face the media for the first time since his reported bust-up with James Beattie.

Magilton has been stood down over an allegation he headbutted the Hungarian player after Monday night's 3-1 defeat at Watford.

But a dressing room witness revealed to Press Association Sport there was no headbutt and Buzsaky merely took exception to Magilton's forthright post-match opinion.

"There was no headbutt, nothing like it. Akos was actually sitting down at the time," said the source.

"It was exactly the sort of discussion you'd expect after a disappointing defeat. Jim bent down to speak to Akos, it got a bit heated, forehead to forehead, and (coach) Keith Ryan told Jim to move away. Jim did, but then Akos got up and ran out of the dressing room.

"(Assistant boss) John Gorman told him not to be so stupid and to come back inside. But he refused."

Buzsaky then spent half an hour wandering around a stand at Vicarage Road, in view of a room full of journalists, showing no signs of having just been headbutted by an angry 6ft Irishman.

Magilton, who told reporters after the game the incident was down to "a difference of opinion", put his side of the story to Briatore on Tuesday but was told yesterday morning he had been suspended and not to show up at the club's training ground.

The former Ipswich boss also spent much of Tuesday attempting to speak to Buzsaky in a bid to heal the rift, but the player did not answer his calls.

Gorman and reserves boss Ryan have walked out in support of Magilton, who insisted: "I categorically deny any allegation of wrong-doing."

Yet Rangers appear to be backing their player, yesterday issuing a statement denying Buzsaky had handed in a transfer request and quoting the 27-year-old as claiming he was "focused on our next fixture against West Brom on Monday night".

Press Association Sport has also learned that when Gorman asked for a show of hands from the players in support of Magilton, and none raised their hands, club director and Briatore's right-hand man Gianni Paladini was also present in the room.

Magilton is the fifth permanent manager to work under Briatore in the two years since the Italian took over.

Former Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has already been linked with the role. Youth coaches Steve Gallen and Marc Bircham have been placed in temporary charge.

Pulis was also alleged to have headbutted Beattie in the aftermath of his side's 2-0 defeat by Arsenal on Saturday.

It has been reported the pair fell out over plans for the players' Christmas party, with Pulis supposedly changing his mind about giving the side an additional day off.

The Potters' weekly press briefing is scheduled to take place today, with Pulis due to answer questions alongside defender Ryan Shawcross.

An internal investigation is ongoing, while reports earlier this week that the pair had exchanged apologies were later shot down by sources close to Beattie.