The 35-year-old Liverpool legend refused to take his place on the North Queensland bench for last season's clash with Brisbane late in the A-League season after Fury coach Ferguson opted not to use his captain in the starting line-up.

Fowler was photographed in the stands at Dairy Farmers Stadium talking on his mobile phone and although both player and coach patched up the relationship, questions remained as to whether there had been a major falling out between the pair.

But speaking in Britain, Fowler categorically put the matter to rest, declaring his relationship with Ferguson, now an assistant at Glory, was a major reason for him joining Perth after his contract with North Queensland was voided following that club's financial difficulties.

And, Fowler added, he had no right to have protested Ferguson's decision in such a way.

"I think, from a little molehill, it turned into a mountain," Fowler declared when asked about ongoing suggestions of bad blood between himself and former Rangers champion Ferguson.

"Obviously as a player or as a man, you always have fallings out ... not fallings out, we always have little arguments with anyone.

"It can happen in any walk of life, in any job."

He added: "Obviously I think I'm quite a strong character and the manager at the time, he wanted to drop me and as a manger he's got every right too.

"It was just what I believed and the way things panned out, I probably could have handled it a little bit better.

"It probably was all down to me, as for Ian Ferguson, I've never had a problem with him, obviously managers are there to make decisions.

"You do have to respect them, so I was probably in the wrong and we did talk about it a lot at the time and I did admit that to him, but there was never as big a deal as what people were making out."

Fowler said speaking with Ferguson and his desire to stay in Australia had led to him to rejecting big-money offers to move to the Middle East.

"The matches I played over in Australia last year, obviously I really enjoyed the football and the stadiums and the crowds over there," Fowler said.

"You know when you're used to something it's just hard to let go and go somewhere else where you're not used to, so I think that was a major factor as well."

The striker also said he opted for Perth instead of A-League champion Sydney after simply feeling more wanted by Glory.

"I just felt that they wanted me a little bit more and they went out of the way a little bit more," Fowler said.

"I obviously spoke to the chairman, I spoke to the manager a good few times before I actually decided to sign, so the fact is that they went out of their way and it goes a long way in making a decision."