Saturday, 18 August 2012 10:34

LONDON: Fulham manager Martin Jol confirmed attacker Clint Dempsey (pic) is to leave the club after being fined for refusing to play against Norwich tonight.

Jol revealed earlier that Dempsey would not be included in the club's squad for the match.

It is understood that the American, who scored 23 goals for Fulham last season, refused to play as he seeks to secure a move to Liverpool.

And Fulham have fined him for taking that stance.

"Clint was not involved over the last four weeks so he is not going to be in the squad," said Jol.

"He is not committed to the club. He wants to leave.

"I would like to keep him, but I think it's impossible. It's a sad and an almost embarrassing situation."

Liverpool's manager Brendan Rodgers told his own club's website last month that he had made an inquiry about the player.

Then the website for Massachusetts-based news channel New England Sports Network (NESN), owned by Anfield proprietors Fenway Sports Group, also published a story claiming Dempsey was a Liverpool player.

Liverpool have infuriated Jol with these actions.

"That was very disappointing," said the Dutchman.

"There was never an offer. Clint himself told everyone he was going to Liverpool before he came back so we really thought there was quite a firm interest in him.

"Even (Rodgers) told everyone he was interested in Clint Dempsey, but our people never had an offer on the table, so it's almost embarrassing.

"If you have shown interest in a player, especially in England, you have to follow it up with an offer. They didn't."

Dempsey, 29, has made it clear he wants to move to a bigger club, and has been training separately from his teammates this summer, but Jol insists the American will not be sold cheaply.

"Maybe Liverpool will come back," said Jol.

"I can assure you that our chairman is strong enough. At first we didn't want to get rid of him, later on we had to change our position.

"But our view is that we won't let Clint Dempsey go on the cheap, that's for sure."

- mD