Clubs chase Bowyer

Bowyer is in dispute for failing to pay a club fine

Leeds United have been approached by agents for two Premiership clubs looking to sign Lee Bowyer.

Elland Road chairman Peter Ridsdale told the BBC that the controversial midfielder was already attracting interest just 24 hours after being placed on the transfer list.

"I have had two calls from two representatives of premiership clubs," said Risdale. "But I have had no formal offers at this stage."

At no stage did I try to drive Lee Bowyer out of the club

Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale

Ridsdale revealed that he had spoken to Bowyer and his representative David Giess on a number of occasions over the last 24 hours.

But as yet the impasse between player and club had yet to be resolved.

"There seems to be a misunderstanding," added Ridsdale.

"If Lee accepts the disciplinary action then he can remain a Leeds United player and if he doesn't then he will be transfer-listed.

"People have suggested that I have climbed down. But the position has not changed.

"I sincerely believe that in the next 48 hours, Lee will acknowledge that is right and proper for us to take disciplinary action.

"On that night, by his own admission, he was under the influence of alcohol, which is against the club's code of conduct.

"The message to everyone is that footballers are role models and they cannot be outside in city centres with too much alcohol inside their bodies

We are going to lose a great player but we have got to be seen to be doing the right thing for this football club

Leeds manager
David O'Leary

"But I would stress that I have had at no stage tried to drive Lee out of the club, but we have to have discipline."

Manager David O'Leary admits he does not want Bowyer to leave the club but fears there may be no alternative.

O'Leary told BBC Radio Five Live: "My chairman likes him and doesn't want to sell him and I don't want to sell him.

"We are going to lose a great player but we have got to be seen to be doing the right thing for this football club.

"If it undermines us and takes him away from us we have to do that."

Bowyer was put up for sale on Tuesday after he refused to pay a fine the club had imposed on him for his drunken behaviour on the night that Sarfraz Najeib was attacked in Leeds.

Bowyer was cleared of affray or grievous bodily harm but team-mate Jonathan Woodgate was found guilty of affray.