Lee Bowyer has warned clubs to expect more footballers to refuse to play for fear of injury after revealing Charlton’s talisman Lyle Taylor is one of three players who have said they will not take the field when the Championship resumes. The season is due to restart on 20 June but the club’s top goalscorer, who is out of contract at the end of the month, informed Bowyer he does not wish to play because an injury could jeopardise his chances of a “life-changing move”.
The 30-year-old has not trained with the club since last Tuesday and Bowyer admitted he twice failed in his efforts to change Taylor’s mind.
“It makes my job a hell of a lot harder to win games but it is something I cannot control,” Bowyer told the Guardian. “I can’t make him play. But at the same time, I understand his situation – and it’s difficult because he’s got a chance of earning life-changing money. It’s not like he’s a young lad and he’s got many years in front of him. I half understand because he may not get this opportunity again.”
Taylor has scored 11 goals in 22 matches this season despite knee and thigh injuries and last season scored 25 goals as the club were promoted via the League One play-offs. Bowyer compared Taylor’s influence at the relegation-threatened club to Troy Deeney at Watford and admitted he is torn by the forward’s decision. “I’m pleased for him because he’s worked hard for me for two years – he’s a big reason we are in the division with his goals last season – but at the same time I needed him now, until the end, to help us,” Bowyer said. “We are not a one-man team, for sure we are not, but he has been our talisman.”
The long-serving Charlton defender Chris Solly, also out of contract this month, equally does not wish to play for fear of injury, while David Davis, the Birmingham loanee, has told Bowyer he will not play because of concerns over player safety. Around 1,400 EFL players are out of contract at the end of June and Bowyer admitted he expects more to reject the chance to play between now and the resumption of the season. “For sure, for sure,” he said. “Lyle Taylor and Chris Solly aren’t going to be the only ones.”
