Lee Bowyer admits he still does not know whether he will commit his
long-term future to Leeds.
The
25-year-old has one year left on his Elland Road contract and is
said to be stalling on the club's offer of a new deal, worth a reported
£39,000 a week. The midfielder saw his proposed £9m
move to Liverpool collapse last week, after their manager Gerard
Houllier accused him of lacking "hunger" and "desire".
His reluctance to commit himself to Leeds saw him placed on the
transfer list at the end of last season, and chairman Peter Ridsdale
has reiterated his stance that the player will be sold if he does
not sign the new deal.
Bowyer said: "I am not going to say yes or no to whether I
have ruled out staying.
"I don't know myself what I am going to do. I cannot tell the
future. There are a lot of things that can happen between now and
next summer."
The former Charlton man suggested that he is far from happy with
the treatment he has received from Leeds since being cleared of
charges related to an attack on a student outside a Leeds nightclub
in January 2000.
"You know why I have not signed," he added. "I have
spoken to the manager and the chairman and they know the situation.
Things have happened behind closed doors that nobody knows about."
Bowyer says he will continue to give his all for Leeds until his
situation becomes clearer, and said: "I go out to give 100%
each game I play. The boss knows that, and the supporters and other
players know that.
"I have never hidden in games, and I never will do - no matter
what sort of situation I am in. So there is no worry that I will
be holding back anything.
"I have given my all to the team, the supporters and whoever
has been manager. I will carry on doing that for as long as I am
at the club."
Bowyer remains unconcerned by Houllier's comments and says he is
"delighted" to be back at Leeds.
"That was his own opinion," said Bowyer. "In football
in general, I never lack hunger or desire, not for the team I am
playing for, even as a kid.
"But at this moment I play for Leeds, not Liverpool, and I
believe with hindsight that it is in the best interest of both parties.
Now I am back playing with people I love playing with and working
with, so I am delighted," Bowyer told the Daily Express.
