Roeder backs his new man Bowyer

GLENN ROEDER cut through all the moral issues surrounding Lee Bowyer’s transfer to West Ham and yesterday insisted: “Quite simply, I signed him because I believe he will be an asset to the team.”

While the signing of England midfielder Bowyer from Leeds for a nominal fee is a major football coup by Roeder, the bottom-of-the-table Hammers have been criticised for signing a player who has attracted a large degree of trouble on and off the pitch.

Roeder accepts there is baggage attached to the player. But he is confident he is not taking a gamble on the 26-year-old and said he would not be doing his job if he had not signed him.