The future of one of the most talented, but moody, English footballers again looks in jeopardy after Leicester City's new boss became the latest in a frustrated line of managers to write off the striker.

Collymore was on Monday officially transfer-listed at his own request . . . while the spectre of possible FA disciplinary action hangs over him for his petulant confrontation with Paul Gascoigne during the 1-1 draw with Everton on Sunday.

Taylor said: 'I'd be surprised if I ever played him again.'

In fact, had the Leicester manager been able to find a way, Collymore would already have been out of the Filbert Street door through which he entered only seven months ago when previous manager Martin O'Neill declared: 'This is Stan's last chance saloon.'

Taylor makes the most rigorous demands for fitness and commitment of his players, and Collymore fell well short of the dedication, application and attitude which have taken Leicester near the Premiership summit this season.

And it showed. Most pertinently on the dressing-room scales.

While Collymore was protesting his devotion to the club and desire to rekindle his England career after recovering from a broken leg, they told a different story.

Taylor revealed: 'Stan has put on a stone since he reported back pre-season. We all know how good a player he can be. Neither myself, nor the club, could have tried harder to get him at that level but things like getting fit and having the right desire to succeed have to come from him.'

He pinpointed Collymore's mood swing from the moment the club declined to offer more than the basic £14,000-a-week he is under-stood to have been paid since his move from Aston Villa, even though the likes of Neil Lennon and Muzzy Izzet were getting lucrative new deals.

Taylor said: 'When Stan came back for pre-season training he was doing well but then, nine days before the start of the season, his advisers asked for very high wages and a new contract.

'We weren't prepared to do that and since that day, Stan has not been as positive. Leicester gave some very good contracts to players - but they'd been doing a great job for a period of years, not just six-and-a-half games, as was Stan's case.'

Despite his concerns, Taylor continued to involve Collymore in his first-team, albeit on the bench. But his display as substitute against Everton forced Taylor to call time.

He said: 'I was very disappointed. He could have worked a lot harder and I told him he was not performing as he should. For me, Sunday was the straw that broke the camel's back.

'He had, apparently, told one or two players that he'd put in a transfer request if he didn't start the game. His subsequent performance was totally unacceptable.

'I told him if he was to go on playing like that, it would be in the best interests of the club that he was no longer with us.'

Taylor and Collymore had talks on Monday and, according to the manager, they agreed an instant termination of his contract which expires at the end of this season.

But Taylor added: 'I got a call from his advisers telling me he should go on the transfer list. I do not have grounds, myself, to cancel the contract and Stan will continue to pick up his weekly wage.

'I could not be more disappointed about how things have worked out. I stepped in because I thought it might start to affect the others. I felt Stan didn't want to fight for his team-mates on Sunday.'

For Collymore it seems to be a repeat of his unfortunate stay at Villa. He had made himself an instant hero with Filbert Street fans through early goalscoring and effort . . . but finds himself on the outside looking in with the old temperamental flaws apparent again.

He said: 'The situation is that I haven't been sacked, I was sent home during treatment. At the beginning of the season I asked if I could have an extension to my contract which was talked about at the end of last season.