Hull boss Dowie: Barmby, Bullard? I was at West Ham for Hartson, Berkovic!

Hull City boss Iain Dowie isn't panicking over reports of rifts in the squad he has inherited.

Dowie refused to read too much into last week's altercation between Jimmy Bullard and Nick Barmby, although he was insistent on encouraging unity in the ranks.

He said: "Of course it is concerning, you don't want discord in the camp but you don't want to over read these things.

"I've been at loads of clubs - I was at West Ham with John Hartson and Eyal Berkovic - it can spark.

"It's very important we pull in the same way. No one is more important than the direction in which we pull, from the chairman down.

"We must be single-minded and selfless. It's not about individuals, it's about team unity.

"I'll be talking to the lads about that. It's not a concern.

"In the end, it will be my opinion in the changing room and that is the one we want to hear."