Barnet boss Martin Allen has refuted claims by Trinidad and Tobago head coach Stephen Hart the Bees were unprofessional and bullied defender Gavin Hoyte into not travelling to America for a friendly with Mexico.
The defender was originally called up by the Soca Warriors for a clash in Utah last week but he was withdrawn by the Bees following a discussion with Allen.
Hart, however, told Trinidad and Tobago Newsday: “I was not pleased with how his club handled it. Basically they bullied the player.
"They told him he would be available and they would release him and then just hours before he is supposed to get on the plane they refuse to let him go and then you place the player in a situation where he is in a scrap with the club and the manager.
“I think that was very unprofessional and quite frankly they showed disrespect to the Trinidad and Tobago international programme because I am sure if it was England who called him, or Ireland or Wales, they would let him go.”
Allen has now hit back and told the Times Series: “It is a shame that Stephen hasn’t got the heart to call me.
“I discussed it with Gavin, gave him the option to go and it was mutually agreed he wasn’t going to this occasion.
"Gavin has been superb but I though he needed a rest last weekend at Carlisle. I thought a long trip to Central America was not what he needed and I explained all that to him.
“Gavin perfectly understood that and we informed Trinidad and Tobago at the time. At no point has their manager tried to contact me, called me, texted me or emailed me.
“I have been doing this since I was 15 years old. I’ve just won a championship and we are one of the most professional, organised, tight-knit little teams of staff in the lower leagues.
"So it is a shame he never had the decency to ring me. That is what you call unprofessional.”