PHC Zebras have launched an investigation into the circumstances that led to a dispute between Scott Morton, the PHC head coach, and Cecoy Robinson, the captain, that marred the club’s 9-0 thrashing of Flanagan’s Onions at the weekend.

Robinson lost his cool after opening the scoring at Goose Gosling Field on Sunday and got involved in a dispute with Morton, who then substituted him for striker Dunte Albuoy.

The player’s fate now rests in the hands of PHC hierarchy.

“We are dealing with that internally,” Morton told The Royal Gazette. “We will put everything out on the table, hear everybody’s side and move on from there.”

Morton said Robinson’s outburst did not tarnish his team’s annihilation of Onions.

“That didn’t take away from it, it’s just football,” he added. “Players disagree with coaches and coaches disagree with players, so you just handle it and move on and the way the players responded after that was phenomenal because it was only 1-0 when he went off.”

Morton is confident that he and Robinson can resolve their differences.

“It was just a storm in a teacup and we will get over it and move on,” the coach said. “The coaching staff and the players is just like any other relationships and relationships are not just based on when everything is going well.

“The true testament is when things don’t go so well for you or have difficult moments and how to can you come through that, so this is just a normal situation.”

Morton said the final scoreline caught him by surprise.

“I was surprised with the amount of goals,” he said. “But we always create at least four or five chances per game, so I am expecting to convert at least three of them.

“Once that happens with opponents most of the time they drop their heads, become deflated and it makes things easier.”

Leading PHC’s charge against Onions was midfielder Marco Warren, who registered the season’s first hat-trick.

“It was a good performance by Marco and all the players,” Morton said. “They all gave their all and that’s all I can ask for.”

PHC finished second behind Robin Hood on goal difference in the Premier Division last season, something Morton said his players have taken to heart.

“The players are very concerned about that [goal difference] more than me and so all praise goes to them for staying calm and executing on a difficult hot day,” Morton said. “Even though the score was 9-0 Flanagan’s, at times, frustrated us. But again my players just stuck it out and kept being patient and just worked hard to get the result.”