Manifesto of a Coke can rebel

We've all wanted to do it at some stage and next to biffing the boss, pouring a cold, sticky liquid over his head has its merits when the red mist of frustration takes hold.

Joanne Muggeridge, the badminton player once sponsored by the equipment company Headstrong, employed the real thing in a way Coca-Cola would not approve of to end abruptly a meeting with the England manager, Steve Baddeley, in his Milton Keynes office. The incident eight days ago has passed into sporting folklore, but the 27-year-old Muggeridge, having spectacularly thrown open the door marked "Bad Girl of British Badminton", is eager to slam it shut just as quickly. However, it may take time.

All Muggeridge, a double Commonwealth Games gold medal winner and twice an Olympian, wants to do is play for England. Baddeley wants the best players in his squad and Muggeridge, at No 30, is Britain's highest-ranked woman singles player in the world. So why the spat?

For a start, the Catford-born professional was feeling the pinch, having been dropped from the elite 28-strong squad, who have their travel and hotel bills paid for by the Badminton Association of England. A trip to the forthcoming Swiss Open will set her back at least pounds 500. Lottery cash is also about to be splashed around and only Securicor's generosity is keeping her on the road.

Baddeley, who doubles as the director of elite play, took action after Muggeridge missed two grand slam events through injury and doubts grew about her fitness. Elite players are obliged to play in the top domestic events and the axe fell after she withdrew from the December tournament.

"I couldn't believe it when I was told I'd been dropped. I'd had a minor short-term injury," said Muggeridge, whose claim that her overall fitness is fine is backed by a semi-final place in the Indian Open in January. "When you are injured it's bad enough not playing, never mind being told you're out of the squad. I couldn't play in the September grand slam because of a thigh muscle injury and in December it was my Achilles. There was no question of my shirking my responsibilities to England. I am fit and I wanted to play those matches."

The grand slam tour arrived at Mansfield last weekend and Muggeridge asked for a pre-event pow-wow with Baddeley. It did not go well.

"He told me that even if I played at Mansfield I wouldn't be back in the squad. Outside in the car I had all my kit packed ready to play the next day. I was so upset." It was at this point that a fizzy substance came into contact with Baddeley's hair.

"I was just so frustrated. He didn't move, or say anything. He was quite surprised," said Muggeridge, who, having also been given a letter which relieved her of "all responsibilities and obligations" to the squad, flounced off to Germany to get match practice for the All England Championships which start in Birmingham on Tuesday week.

The decision by Baddeley, whose reflexes won him Commonwealth gold, to remain immobile was the correct one, according to Maryanne Henchy, the BAE spokeswoman. "He didn't react. It would have been a mistake if he had, but afterwards he was extremely upset," she said. On the question of Muggeridge's post-dunking image, Henchy added: "Joanne is no more difficult to handle than some others, but she has her own views and is a very strong- minded person."

Few olive branches have been waved this week, but Baddeley has indicated that if Muggeridge allows her training to be monitored by the BAE and if there is an improvement in her fitness, she could be reinstated. "We are not doubting her ability," he said. "She could be in the world's top 20."

A thaw of sorts continued with her response to a letter of support for the manager signed by 17 of the elite squad, including her England doubles partner, Julie Bradbury. The players "wholeheartedly" backed Baddeley for demanding that Muggeridge plays in grand slam events, follows a strict training regime and does not play in the German Bundesliga when required to play in England. The letter went on: "We hope that Joanne will recognise her misjudgement and do her best to repair the situation, for she is a talented player who we would like to see train hard and eventually fulfil her potential."

In the latest of almost daily faxes to national newspapers which have kept the brouhaha going, Muggeridge replied that in hindsight her "actions last weekend were capable of misinterpretation by my fellow players and this I deeply regret."

She will play in the next grand slam at Redbridge in April whether or not she is reinstated, but "the withdrawal of funding and support is so fundamental to my ability to compete at the highest level that I must continue to pursue the avenues of appeal open to me to remedy my present position."

Either on court, or off it, Muggeridge is competitive - a trait she has inherited from her father and coach, Vic, a retired fireman who has twice been in trouble with the BAE for over-enthusiasm at matches. There is a divide between her and Baddeley, but at least his hair should be dry by now.