The Mirror carried the story this morning, but Shepherd was at pains to stress that there was no truth in it.
"Sir Bobby Robson didn't get to first base when he was interested in Bowyer at the end of last year and the lad went to West Ham," he claimed.
"Bowyer wanted to go back to London and I think you will find that is where he will stay."
It seems that the lucky escape we had in January is permanent.