National coach Keith Tucker has vehemently denied claims that bad blood exists between himself and top striker Aljame Zuill.

It was revealed yesterday that a difference of opinion had arisen between the two men over team tactics during a practice session held last Thursday at the National Sports Centre.

Zuill is said to have disagreed with the coach on specific tactical matters, which, according to eye-witnesses, resulted in words being "exchanged" between the two men.

"They definitely had words with each other and I do know that Keith is very upset with Aljame at the moment," one national team source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Royal Gazette.

When confronted yesterday Tucker declined to publicly comment on the alleged dispute with Zuill, insisting the matter "is not an issue".

However, the player's grandfather Warrington (Soup) Zuill, speaking on his grandson's behalf, painted a different picture.

"There is discontentment between Aljame and Tucker and also a number of other players who are disagreement with the coach's formation (4-5-1)," Zuill asserted.

Zuill did not train with the senior national squad the day after the alleged dispute with Tucker and sat out last Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Cayman Island at the NSC on the bench - further fuelling growing claims the two men no longer see eye-to-eye.

Bermuda eventually drew 1-1 with the Caymans, with Zuill banging in six goals in retaliation for club side Devonshire Colts 24 hours later in the FA Cup.

He also netted a clinical hat-trick representing Bermuda against St. Kitt's at the NSC last December to give Tucker his first, and only win to date, at the helm of the senior national team.