The former Liverpool legend refused to play after Ferguson relegated him to the bench for the vital game against Brisbane Roar and instead watched the match from the stands, eating ice cream with his child.

Chairman Don Matheson called the pair in for crisis talks on Monday morning and the dispute was publicly written off as 'a misunderstanding' between the marquee star and his coach.

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Asensio's Screamer Vs FC Barcelona
In one of Real Madrid's most outstanding performances at the Camp Nou, Los Blancos beat FC Barcelona 3-1 in the Spanish Supercup. Real were leading 2-1 after Cristiano Ronaldo's 80th minute goal, but just before the final whistle, we sealed the win with this beautiful Marco Asensio strike.
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In the wake of the row though, claims emerged that Fowler had told the club to choose between him or Ferguson.

Today though Fowler dismissed the persistent reports of a feud and insisted: "There was never an ultimatum.

"I'm a player and the manager is the manager. I just want to go and play football for the club's best interest. The manager's got to pick a team for the club's best interests

"As for me coming out and saying something like that, I have never been like that and I would certainly never like that happening to me if I was the manager. I just would never, ever, give anyone ultimatums like that.

"Things could have been avoided but obviously they weren't. As far as I'm concerned there was never really a problem anyway. The gaffer's picked the team and I can live with that."

Fowler denied it was humiliating for him to be dropped to the bench as club captain and marquee star.

"Not at all, " he said at a press conference today. "I've been dropped before. Dropped may not be the right word, but I've been subbed before so it's not a case of my ego or me being big-headed. It's one of them things.

"I'd like to put it all behind us now. I've been embarrassed, the gaffer's been embarrassed and I think we probably embarrassed the club, but moreso me."

He added: "Let's forget about it now and move on.

"Things happen in football and there were one or two days where we both got a bit [of headlines] but we're both adults and we had a chat. I've never had a problem with the gaffer and he's told me he's never had a problem with me.

"As far as I'm concerned there's no problems whatsoever."

Despite his glittering career for England and in the English Premier League, Fowler admitted this spell in Townsville with Fury was his first taste of life in the full glare of public scrutiny.

"It's not the biggest of towns," he said. "Probably things like this get highlighted more than it should. There was probably no reason for people to know and it should have remained indoors.

"If everything was quiet then we would have just dealt with it quietly."

But he insisted: "There's never been any rifts.

"We shall just continue our relationship as it has been from the start of the season. It's actually a very good relationship."

Fowler said Ferguson still had his full support as coach.

"Without a shadow," he said. "The team's done well this year. We're not as high up the table as we would have liked but people forget we have had a horrendous run of injuries and the lads deserve a bit of credit.

"What's happened, happened, but we've moved on. The manager released a statement last week that there was no rifts. At the end of the day, he's the manager and you have to listen to what the manager says.

"Everything's done now."

But Fowler sidestepped questions about the possible consequences if Ferguson were to drop him to the bench again.

"You're after a little bit of controversy," he said. "We can stand here and talk till we're blue in the face. What's happened has happened.

"Never you mind. Let's talk about the football...it's been embarrassing this week."

But his coach vowed to do the same again if he felt it was right.

"If I had to," said Ferguson. "I'm here to make decisions and that's what I'll do. That's what I'm paid for and what I have to do for the club.

"There are no bad feelings between the players. I still have the dressing room. I've been ridiculed, Robbie's been ridiculed and the club's been ridiculed. It's time to move on.

"Robbie's part of the team and he will be here next season."

Tomorrow night's game against Newcastle Jets is still hanging in the balance after persistent torrential rain and expected king tides could cause the game to be cancelled. A decision is expected tomorrow morning.