NEWCASTLE chairman Freddy Shepherd last night drew a line under summer speculation regarding the future of Lee Bowyer by insisting the controversial midfielder would not be leaving St James' Park.

Bowyer's importance to the Magpies was underlined on Wednesday night as his venomous volley earned a priceless away goal in his side's 2-1 defeat to Deportivo La Coruna.

Yet had things turned out differently last month, Bowyer would not have been in Spain to give Newcastle a lifeline ahead of next Wednesday's Intertoto Cup semi-final second leg.

The 28-year-old, who has also been attracting the attention of Charlton and West Ham, was on the verge of joining Birmingham until the unease of the Blues fans sent him scurrying back to Tyneside.

At the time, Newcastle were willing to accept a fee of around £1m for his services but, after struggling to make signings of their own this summer, both Shepherd and manager Graeme Souness have been forced to alter their transfer policy.

Bowyer, who has recently claimed he never wanted to leave Tyneside in the first place, is still walking a disciplinary tightrope following his on-field brawl with team-mate Kieron Dyer last season.

But, crucially, the Magpies have told potential suitors their interest in the England international is no longer welcome.

"We have been delighted to hear Lee's recent comments that he wants to stay with Newcastle United," said Shepherd in a joint statement released with Souness.

"What has happened in the past is now in the past. Lee is a fantastic player and remains one of the most popular lads in the dressing room. He has always given 110 per cent commitment for the club."

The statement represents a significant about turn for Shepherd who remains hopeful of persuading both Fenerbahce and Fulham to reduce their valuation of United transfer targets Nicolas Anelka and Luis Boa Morte.

The United chief insisted he would be not improving his current offer for either player earlier this week - he is understood to have tabled a £4m bid for Anelka and made a £3.5m approach for Boa Morte - leading to speculation that Newcastle's interest in the pair had cooled.

That is not the case and, rather than signalling an acceptance of defeat, Shepherd is hoping his intransigence forces a climbdown from both Turkish side Fenerbahce and Premiership rivals Fulham.

Crucially, both Anelka and Boa Morte are keen on a move to St James' Park and Souness is reluctant to start identifying new targets with his side's season already in full swing.

Shepherd also confirmed the club arer still hopeful of tieing up a deal for Australia international Craig Moore.

The 29-year-old former Rangers skipper is available on a free transfer after an ill-fated spell with Borussia Monchengladbach, and Shepherd said: "We are still negotiating with the player and his agent. He has indicated that he wants to come to Newcastle but we have to get a deal that suits both parties. We have had glowing reports about Craig from Rangers and if he does come here, he will be an asset to us."

Wednesday's result gives Newcastle a realistic chance of securing an Intertoto final spot against either Marseille or Lazio and Bowyer is hoping history repeats itself in five days time.

The midfielder starred for Leeds in 2001 when they thrashed Deportivo 3-0 in the home leg of their Champions League quarter-final and is looking for a similar success next week.

"Leeds got battered 2-0 away to Deportivo but we battered them at home 3-0," said Bowyer. "Back then they didn't travel too well, and hopefully it will be the same story again.

"It's going to be a tough task at home. There's still a long way to go, but hopefully we can get through to the final."

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