Premiership: ‘Bowyer is no racist or thug’ - O’Leary

Leeds United manager David O’Leary tonight scrambled to the defence of shamed soccer star Lee Bowyer claiming that the under-fire midfielder was ‘‘not a racist or a thug’’.

After a dramatic week in which Bowyer was placed on the transfer list only to be taken off after finally agreeing to pay a club fine, O’Leary said he wanted the troubled star to stay.

O’Leary said: ‘‘Do I want him to stay and sign a new contract? Yes. And if there is anything about him, he will.’’

Bowyer had been put up for sale by the West Yorkshire side for refusing to pay a club fine of £64,000 for breaking the club’s code of conduct on the night an Asian student was brutally beaten.

Bowyer was found not guilty eight days ago of affray and grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to the incident in Leeds city centre last year.

His co-defendant and fellow team-mate Jonathan Woodgate was found not guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent, but was ordered to do 100 hours community service after he was convicted of affray.

Despite claiming that he had been victimised Bowyer went on to pay the fine and was included in today’s side which lost 4-3 to Newcastle United grabbing one of the goals in his first appearance since October 18.

O’Leary said: ‘‘He couldn’t accept he had to come back here and answer to me.

‘‘Whatever happened in court, as soon as they were out drinking, Lee and Jonathan Woodgate were guilty of letting down this club, of breaking our rules.

‘‘Once the law of the land had dealt with them, it was my turn.’’

But he added: ‘‘He (Bowyer) was stupid to be out drinking in Leeds, as was Jonathan Woodgate, but he’s not a racist or a thug, in my opinion.’’

Today, Bowyer put his troubles behind him, scoring a crucial equaliser in the Barclaycard Premiership top of the table clash against Newcastle shortly after Leeds fans had cheered his return to the side.

The supporters had made their position clear on Wednesday when they chanted the player’s name at regular intervals during the 3-2 win over Everton.

Woodgate watched from the subs bench as the 24-year-old midfielder slipped past two tackles and slid the ball past goalkeeper Shay Given.

Woodgate was named as a sub after the centre-back accepted his punishment of eight weeks’ wages - £104,000 - for also breaching the club’s policy on alcohol after he was found guilty of affray.

Bowyer’s first goal for two months will undoubtedly lift his spirits even though his team lost ground in the title race.

Earlier today it was revealed that Bowyer, who is facing a legal bill of more that £1m, has placed his five-bedroom home on the market.

The property is in the village of Linton, near Wetherby, West Yorkshire and is being offered for sale for £575,000.

Bowyer was last week ordered to pay his own defence costs despite being acquitted.

The judge said Bowyer’s statements to police after the attack in Leeds city centre last year had been ‘‘littered with lies’’.

A source at the estate agents handling the sale, Beadnall & Copley, said that the property had been put on the market within the last two weeks.

The source did not believe anyone had yet made an offer on the secluded home.

The house is described on the estate agent’s website as a ‘‘most spacious five-bedroom family home’’ with a ‘‘superb location in an exclusive village’’.

Bowyer’s agent David Geiss was unavailable for comment.