Bowyer arouses some interest

The Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale said yesterday that he still wanted Lee Bowyer to be "a part of the future at Leeds United" even though he had placed the 24-year-old on the transfer list on Tuesday after Bowyer refused to accept Leeds's internal disciplinary procedure.

That action by Leeds is believed to have stimulated interest from two other Premiership clubs, one of them thought to be Tottenham Hotspur. "I've had two phone calls from representatives from Premier League clubs inquiring what the position is but I have had no formal offers," Ridsdale said.

Bowyer's market value is between £12 million and £15 million sterling, but any suitor will expect Leeds to accept about £8 million because of the baggage that comes with the midfielder.

There remains the possibility that Bowyer and Leeds will find a compromise to the stand-off, but only if he agrees to pay the club fine of four weeks' wages, about £88,000 sterling.

"If he accepts the club sanction then there is no problem," his manager David O'Leary said before last night's kick-off.

"I saw him yesterday and he was adamant that he was not going to pay the fine. I cannot say whether he will play again. It's a plc decision. We have got to be seen to be doing the right thing for this football club. And if it takes a great player to leave then so be it."

Ridsdale said: "At no stage have I tried to drive Lee away from the club. If he accepts the disciplinary action he can remain a Leeds player, if he doesn't he will be transferred. The position has not changed.

"I've spoken to his agent on numerous occasions over the last 24 hours. I spoke to Lee three times personally yesterday and again on the training ground today. Fifty per cent of people think we have done the wrong thing in keeping Lee and Jonathan (Woodgate), and 50 per cent think I have done the wrong thing in fining Lee."

Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor, meanwhile, has described the saga as "a mess" and is uncertain whether it can be resolved.

Taylor, unhappy with Leeds for taking matters into their own hands and imposing fines - with Woodgate accepting an eight-week levy of £104,000 - without consultation with his organisation, said: "It would have been good if we had become involved beforehand. It's no use saying there are going to be any winners. This is a mess and we are trying to resolve it, but it's not going to be easy. Lee has asked for 48 hours to reflect on the situation and his future and we've given him that time to think about it rather than acting in haste."

Bowyer was fined by the club for being drunk on the night that the Asian student Sarfraz Najeib was attacked. Solicitors for the Najeib family have said they are considering launching a civil action against the club.