Regrettably Lee has refused to accept this club's disciplinary sanction

Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale

O'Leary and Ridsdale are conscious of the club's image

A regular place in a team which has the capability to dominate on both the Premiership and European stage is not to be sniffed at.

Bowyer showed his undoubted potential last season, and was arguably Leeds' best player.

He excelled in their Champions League adventure and produced consistently high performances as O'Leary's side finished strongly in the Premiership.

The chance of domestic success could pave the way for Bowyer to force his way into Sven-Goran Eriksson's World Cup squad, too.

However, one wonders whether the image conscious Football Association will be brave enough to give him that opportunity now.

Should Bowyer head for the Elland Road exit, he may struggle to find a club that wants him.

Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal and Aston Villa would normally covet a player of his ability.

But the managers of these Premiership high-flyers are all known for their strict codes of discipline.

Bowyer may be too big a risk for Houllier

It would be a big risk, say, for Gerard Houllier to sign Bowyer when he has just off-loaded Robbie Fowler to Leeds.

Fowler, like Bowyer, had his off-the-field problems and occasionally landed himself in hot water with the cub.

One certainty among the ifs and buts is that Bowyer's prolonged absence from the Leeds side will hit their Premiership challenge hard.

The club are already depleted in the midfield department, with Olivier Dacourt sidelined with a dislocated shoulder and Eirik Bakke still not fully fit.

There's little doubt, Bowyer gives Leeds an extra dimension, an added impetus they sometimes lack - as they did in the second half of their 2-2 draw with Leicester on Sunday.

Whether the player sees sense and changes his mind remains to be seen.

Whatever he does, Bowyer's reputation - and general ambivalence to those who have shown great patience with him - will now, if it did not already, go before him.