The war of words between Bolton chairman Ken Anderson and Forest Green Rovers owner Dale Vince has been taken up a notch after the Wanderers chief described his counterpart as 'one of the strangest people l have ever come across in football'.
Vince is suing Bolton for breach of contract in the £1million transfer of Christian Doidge, which collapsed on Sunday night after the Championship side failed to make a scheduled payment of £250,000.
Having gone on record to say Anderson 'doesn't give a s***', the Bolton chairman has hit back in a scathing rebuke on Vince and Forest Green.
Anderson writes: 'As regards Dale l can only say that during my several telephone discussions with him, l have found him to probably be one of the strangest people that l have ever come across in football - and in my 20 plus years in the game, l have met hundreds of players, managers , directors and club owners, so that's saying something!
'I have read and heard his recollection of our telephone conversations and have given them the credit they deserve and promptly dispatched them into the bin.
'Furthermore, Dale's allegations about me negotiating a deal with Christian before l even spoke to him is total nonsense and vigorously denied. I never met or spoke to Christian before he signed with us.
'The truth of the matter is that it's probably sour grapes as he knows he negotiated a poor deal in August 2018 and he foolishly tried to renegotiate the terms last Friday and bring an additional £250,000 forward to August/January this year and next. As l have previously said this was flatly refused and remains the position now.
'Everything else he has said is totally irrelevant as far as l am concerned and l won't lower myself to respond to his disrespectful and misleading comments.'
Vince has been left angered by the conduct of Bolton over the Doidge deal and recently told Sportsmail that Bolton had not even 'paid a penny' for Doidge as Forest Green were covering his wages during the loan and invoices to the Championship club went unanswered.
Vocal with his comments on social media, Vince, speaking on Monday, has tried to entice Bolton fans to Forest Green's next home game against Bury on January 19.
'We’ve heard from many Bolton fans who want to say thanks to Christian,' he wrote.
'We’re playing at home against Bury on 19th Jan. Join us and wear your colours! Get a free pint from Doidge and buy our ltd edition t-shirt.'
The shirts quickly sold when they were released on sale and Anderson admits he saw the funny side in the 'No Ken Do' design - but criticised the 'free pint' offer with Vince promoting a vegan and healthy culture at the club.
'I have to say that I found the t-shirts FGR are selling quite humorous and I’m sure the Supporters Trust will greatly receive the funds they generate,' the statement from Anderson continues.
'We are thinking about printing our own which will say, "Yes We Ken" and we will donate all proceeds to those employees of Ecotricity who were made redundant.
'That said, I am not sure where his offer of a free pint of beer fits in with his green philosophy.
'l can only imagine it’s his way of getting his 15 minutes of fame and as much free publicity as possible.
'He’s probably achieved more air time and press coverage over the last few days than ever before. Good luck with that and well done.'
Ultimately Anderson's 1,100-word statement, released on Wednesday afternoon, looks to put to bed the problems between the two clubs - 'I believe I have said everything I need to on the FGR matter and I won’t be making any more comments' - and any issues over who is in breach of the deal are to be 'settled in court'.
Bolton are currently 22nd in the table, three points adrift of safety as the club look to start their bid to avoid the drop against Bristol City on Saturday.
