Roeder has furious row with Breen in training

The West Ham United manager, Glenn Roeder, has had a furious training-ground row with Gary Breen in the build-up to Sunday's Premiership relegation battle with West Bromwich Albion.

Roeder dressed down the Republic of Ireland defender over newspaper criticism of the manager – and the pair's heated row could be heard by several other team-mates. Breen was highly critical of Roeder's style and organisation and verbally attacked him at the club's training-ground headquarters.

After the showdown Roeder tried to befriend Breen, but this annoyed some senior professionals, with Paolo Di Canio feeling that the manager should have stamped his authority on the argument.

Results have already undermined Roeder, but a divided camp would put more pressure on him and make it harder to prepare for Sunday's game. Roeder is in a difficult position over Breen, who has claimed in an article that he played better for the Republic than for West Ham because his national team were more organised.

Breen was signed on a free transfer after the World Cup finals, but has been a disappointment for the Hammers. However, he is on a long-term contract. The latest dispute will not help West Ham's preparations for a game they dare not lose. Roeder may have avoided dismissal on a couple of previous occasions, but his position is still delicate.