Town boss Paul Jewell has revealed that midfielder Lee Bowyer will not be offered a new contract with the Blues. The 35-year-old former Leeds man joined Town on a free transfer from Birmingham last summer.
Jewell said: "We’re not offering Lee Bowyer a contract. I’ve spoken with him at length over the last couple of weeks.
"He’s a terrific lad, a terrific pro, he’s been really good around the place. He’s good with the young players and I think he’s got a good career ahead of him coaching, but he wants to continue playing and I don’t think there’ll be a shortage of takers for him.
"He goes with our best wishes and, as I say, I think he’ll have a good career as a coach because he’s got terrific knowledge and he’s really good character, good for the young players."
The Blues boss admits that that that might surprise a few people: "I have to say you have these perceptions of people before you meet them and I wouldn’t have had him down as being like that, but he’s been terrific.
"He’s a winner. Everything he does he wants to win and he’s a good role model for young players. But he wants to continue playing and we just feel that maybe we’re going to go down a younger route.”
The Town boss says there have been no new firm developments on any of the other players who are out of contract at the end of the season.
Bowyer made 24 starts and five sub appearances for the Blues, scoring twice, including the last-minute winner against his former side West Ham at Upton Park.
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