Relief for Leeds as Bowyer decides he will 'pay and stay'

Lee Bowyer came off the Leeds United transfer list last night after agreeing to pay the fine of four weeks' wages imposed by the club on Monday. "He'll pay and stay," a Leeds official said.

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor was instrumental in the proceedings which only 24 hours previously he had described as "a mess."

Talks took place throughout the day between Bowyer, his representatives, Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale and Taylor before agreement was finally reached that the player would back down from his stern stance.

"Following the intervention of PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor, Lee Bowyer has been taken off the transfer list," said Ridsdale. "A financial contribution equivalent to that previously stated has been agreed between the parties and will be put towards the club's community programme for work within the inner-city communities and the local children's hospice.

"Leeds United would like to go on record as thanking Gordon Taylor, Lee's agent David Geiss and his legal advisor Steven Barker for their assistance in resolving this issue.

"Leeds United would like to make it clear this is an internal disciplinary issue and in no way relates to the case at Hull crown court."

Previously, Bowyer had been "adamant" - according to his manager David O'Leary - about refusing to recognise Leeds's right to impose such a punishment for bringing the club into disrepute by being drunk on the night of the attack on Asian student Sarfraz Najeib.

Bowyer's opinion was that as he had been found not guilty at the trial at Hull crown court, the club had no right to levy such a large fine, estimated to be around £88,000 sterling.

Bowyer's view was shared by many in the 40,000 crowd that attended Wednesday night's Premiership match against Everton. And several of his team-mates also appeared to support him, pointing to the TV gantry from where he and Jonathan Woodgate watched the match after Robbie Fowler scored his first goal for the club since his £11 million move from Liverpool.

While Leeds have not reduced the fine, there may have been a realisation on Bowyer's part that few, if any, clubs would be tempted by his services, especially if Leeds insisted on receiving around £11 million for his transfer.

Leeds's claim on Wednesday that two other Premiership clubs had inquired about Bowyer was not supported throughout the club. And yesterday Glenn Hoddle denied that Tottenham were one of the clubs interested in signing him.

Bowyer trained as normal yesterday at the club's training ground near Wetherby. He is fit again after a hamstring injury and his compliance with the club's code of conduct means he could well appear as a substitute against Newcastle United at Elland Road tomorrow.

That is sure to cause further argument about Leeds's course of action throughout the episode.

Bowyer's agreement came on another dramatic day in Leeds. At the same time Leeds officials were gathering at Elland Road, a couple of miles away in the city centre Najeib was appearing at a press conference with his father to announce that the family would take out a civil action against Bowyer, Jonathan Woodgate and Leeds United.

Woodgate, found guilty of affray last week and ordered to serve 100 hours' community service, was fined eight weeks' wages by the club - £104,000 sterling - and ordered to work with its community programme until the end of his contract.

He accepted the decision and asked for the money to be put towards funding work with inner-city communities in Leeds.