BBC says it's with immediate effect.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Answers

Club not given a reason as yet for its decision.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Hope he goes to Chelsea or Spurs...then I can dislike them a little bit more :))

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

If we so much as SNIFF at Bowyer I will send back my season ticket with immediate effect.

And any English team that buys him will go straight to the top of my shit list.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Yes...can't see any Premiership team going near him. There again, some know no shame and would argue he was actually cleared. A spell abroad would be wise. How about the new Afghan Premiership?

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

*conspiracy theory* i can imagine that any deal to get him cleared involved the premise that he had to leave leeds

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Bowyer refused to accept a fine of four weeks' wages imposed by the club. Leeds said he had breached the club's code of conduct as he was under the influence of alcohol on the night of the attack.

Jonathan Woodgate has accepted his club fine of eight weeks' wages.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Bowyer refused to accept Leeds internal action which was a fine/and community work so something. Therefore they've told him where to go.

Good I think he's a lying little shit. The full story is on the BBC.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

sky have him pulling a nasty face, he's a twat

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

I'm tempted to write to Mr Grimsdale at Leeds and tell him that I applaud his actions.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

He's only 24, same age as Roy Keane when he joined Man U, an obvious home for him I would have thought.

Leeds, for the first time, deserve praise in listing him. They mustn't back down if he decides the 4 weeks fine (£100k ?) is worth paying to stay.

Bigger issue will be who they try and replace him with. Dunno if there are any pacy midfield players available ?

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Shit....I hadn't thought of that Mac :(( they're bound to cash in on him for about 10 mill and then make us a 15 mill offer for Kevin :((

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

I would love to sign him.

I am sure he'll repent now.

After all he was actually cleared although that program the other night did not help his innocent plea.

He is an excellent footballer who has issues.Maybe a stronger manager can help him.But if the chance come up to get him and it was not taken then cutting your nose of etc comes to mind.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Sounds to me from this and recent comments from O'Dearie that Leeds have a bit of a drinking culture they're trying hard to stamp out...a bit late since I got the feeling they've actually promoted that type of atmosphere for a few seasons and now wonder why they've spawned a bunch of cocky, indisciplined tw@ts.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Can't help wondering why Leeds is using work in their own community programs as a punishment. Seems to me it should be a mandatory part of their contracts.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Come on guys, give him a break!. Surely no human being is going to kick a man when he's down :-))

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Soooper Kev, you speak a lot of sense there, sadly for what ever reason NUFC are unlikely to go within a country mile of bowyer and Sunderland might land such a player, he is what he is, but frankly footy players are always a bit of a risk with this sort of reputation in that they are lads with too much stardom and not enough maturity.....controverially I'll mention that for every Jackie Milburn and Peter Beardsley there's a Hughie Gallagher (for his famed drinking) or Paul Gascoigne (sorry Paul again for his anticks) who hit the headlines for the wrong reasons be they true or false. But they are still top players nonetheless, we have a recent media problem and ya makems have Pyeter with his player "right behind ya" loyalty of which you gotta give him credit.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Nice one Cliff ;)

Hmmm difficult one this. I strongly suspect the furore will soon die down, people will revert to a line of "proven innocent in a court of law", Bowyer will become a regular fixture for England ... and a Premiership club. My bet is on Leeds United

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Bowyer will go to WHam

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Perhaps, I wouldn't want Bowyer anywhere near my football club.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

further away than that for me stevo

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

I don't see this as clear cut as some. Bowyer has been cleared of all guilt by jury of his peers in a UK Court of Law. So, in continuing to villify him presumably many of us are saying they don't believe the verdict - that is, he's guilty even if proven innocent! Or are we simply saying he's a tw*t, irrespective of his involvement in the recent trial?

I'm really not sure how I'd feel if we went after him. I certainly don't like him as a blerk - but that applies to numerous other good players, and Bowyer is certainly a very good player.

I'm really not sure on this - principally because I want to believe the Jury did their job. In which case the guy deserves a fresh start.

I'd be very surprised if there was any shortage of takers for the guy in the PL, despite what some others feel. At the end of the day he is a top player in a game that is far from devoid of dodgy characters. Possible purchasers? Man U, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs, Villa.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

It'd be difficult for another club to take him on although I can se Villa, Spurs or the Makems going for him.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Odd one - fining him seems a tacit acceptance of his guilt. I suppose he's quite within his rights to argue that if the courts found him 'innocent' (empahsis on the quote marks) the club have no grounds to fine him.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

I don't think they fined him for the assault, but for "drinking heavily" which breached the club's code of conduct and Bowyer had admitted to that.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

No thanks. That particular dog has a bad name that'll stick regardless of how skilled he is at his chosen profession.

The hope is that, if we must suffer his presence, he goes the way of the rest of the ar5eholes, but in a tenth of the time.

And what would we actually lose if his disgusting presence never again graced a football pitch ? Effing good riddance IMO.

We seem to have lost sight of the fact that the whole stinking lot of them chased that kid for hundreds of yards, and did absolutely nothing to try to stop him being kicked nearly to death, so how they can be anything other than equally guilty needs to be explained to me in words of one syllable.

I'll be back to my disillusioned worst if we go anywhere near him.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Courtesy of ''NJ White' this is one of the more articulate responses posted this afternoon on a Leeds group 'The Square Ball':

Bowyer was found not guilty of the charges brought against him in a court of law. However, the club are fining him for the breach of conduct that he admittidly comitted. Not only did he put himself in the city center drunk, but he has contimually lied to to the club over his involvement. I am sure that O'Leary and Risdale are seriously annoyed at this. Bowyer paying 4 weeks wages (a miserly sum if you consider his earnings to date and also future earnings) is nothing compared to the amount of money that LUFC have lost through sponsorship deals, legal fees, poor start to last season costing us a return to the CL.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

No way would I want us to go for Bowyer, and I'm not going to defend him. However the club's punishment, which is merely for going out drinking during the week, is four weeks wages (fair enough) and taking part in Community service FOR THE LENGTH OF HIS CONTRACT. How long is that for? If it's anything more than a year left to run you can bet that comes to a damned sight more than Woodgate got from the courts and/or it'll last a lot longer too. If that was me I'd find it pretty hard to accept. Still, smug, nasty little git so probably had it coming.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

"...the whole stinking lot of them chased that kid for hundreds of yards, and did absolutely nothing to try to stop him being kicked nearly to death".

Perfect summary Pit Bill. He also lied and connived over his involvement in the affair - offences that may not be criminal, but disqualify him as a meaningful human being.

You've helped make my mind up about him never, ever wearing the b&w strip. However, he will be in demand, guaranteed - but I actually fancy he will stay with Leeds.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

I dont know the extent of the whole case (and I think many doesnt).

BUT , if a guy is found innocent by court, then he is innocent ! Its not like all of them was found innocent, so it apparently happend, but the guy was not involved.

What if he has done anything !! This will haunt hin the rest of his life.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Only people having a conscience end up being haunted Vatos.

That scumbag doesn't appear to have even a soul, never mind a conscience.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

I think you're probably right Clarky. They're welcome to each other.

And, letting my cynicism run riot, it's a put up job, anyway. Ridsdale probably proposed that they fine him whatever, instructing him to refuse to pay, so they list him, and the club've redeemed themselves a bit. He'll relent in about 2 days time, apologising humbly and sincerely to anybody who'll listen, and be welcomed back with open arms into the leeds quagmire. And he'll have redeemed himself a bit as well. European Championship here they come.

Pass the sick bag somebody please.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

About as innocent as OJ, I reckon. The fact that he's refusing to go along with the club's disciplinary action speaks volumes as to his character, IMO.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

I also think he'll stay with Leeds. He'll see that no one will want to buy him and will have to repent and pay his fine. NO other club would buy him.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Sorry but has to be Man U.

Would a club like Mann U buy a player with a hugely tarnished reputation from one of their biggets rivals ? If they thought it would win them a few Premierships then yes of course, Bowyer could be the new Cantona. Not skill but in influence.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

interesting thread

What do we need in our team? What one thing couyld take us the next level? How's about a midfielder who gets stuck in all of the time, snarls away like a rottweiler and pi$$es off virtually the entire opposition. He would be perfect in our midfiled. And he would take us to a platform high enough.

No, I don't like him as a person but I didn't like Batty when he joined either. I don't like Roy Keane but I would love him to play for us

I will be gutted if he goes to Spurs or Chelsea and they finish above us and qualify for Europe.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

He's Bliddy good though & it could be grap a bargain time. The Panorama programme on sunday was more like tonight with Trevor Macdonald time for a special report by the chap they wheel in when someone wants an image change.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

I would hate it if we signed him, it would be awful trying to celebrate a goal scored by him.

He is going to have to play home games only for Leeds - any away games he will need a police escort around the pitch while he is playing.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001

Actually has anyone looked at the Leeds Opta stats comparing when he plays to when he doesnt? 2.2 points per game when he plays - 1.17 when he doesnt - admittedly this is only over 10 games when he played and 6 when he didnt so no proper statistical validity however still interesting to note........

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001