EVERTON’S Portuguese training camp was “marred by an altercation” between their manager and players, according to a shock report.
The Toffees are on an 11-match winless run - just one less than their worst Premier League record from the 1994/95 season.
That led to boss Sean Dyche deciding to take his struggling squad overseas for the week in an effort to rebuild spirit.
However, the Daily Mail has claimed that the training camp was dominated by an “altercation” between him and a number of his stars.
This report states that Dyche “shocked his squad by aiming a jocular slap at the head of defender Nathan Patterson, 22, during a meal in the Algarve resort of Quinta do Lago”.
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The 52-year-old is said to have connected with the Scottish international “more forcefully than he intended”, which left some players unimpressed.
That allegedly led to tempers becoming “sufficiently heated” before Everton captain James Tarkowski stepped in.
The 31-year-old centre-half took his former Burnley boss away from the scene “to allow any lingering ill-feeling to subside”.
They left the table at which the players and staff were eating but returned to finish their meals with the rest of the party.
The report then claims that Dyche was understood to have apologised to Patterson.
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Dyche’s “intentions were harmless” and the evening was “good-natured” apart from this incident, which left the right-back “embarrassed to be the centre of attention”.
The Mail adds that Everton sources are adamant the incident was not a major bust-up and was just “a clumsy joke that backfired”.
However, “it caused a stir among fellow restaurant diners” and provided more unwanted attention amid the club’s struggles on and off the pitch.
Everton’s miserable run has led to them slumping to 16th in the table and just four points above Luton in the relegation zone.
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They have already been deducted six points - which was reduced from ten on appeal - for breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules.
And they look likely to get another points deduction this term after being charged with a second breach of PSR rules.
Everton's trip was reportedly described as a "success" ad the players were believed to be "in good spirits when they landed” back on Merseyside around 5pm on Friday with “all said to be resolved”.
Everton are not back in Premier League action until March 30 when they visit Bournemouth.
