United board next to pass judgement on Barton

Jul 2 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

AFTER appearing in front of a judge for the third time this summer, Joey Barton will get the chance to plead his case to Newcastle United’s hierarchy as soon as he is released from jail.

Despite reports to the contrary, no decision has been made by the Magpies over Barton’s future, nor will it be until the troubled midfielder is released from Walton Prison. That is expected to be in the next three to 10 days, after the 25-year-old was handed a four-month suspended sentence yesterday after admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm on former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo.

Barton is currently serving a six-month sentence for a drink-fuelled city centre assault in December and is expected to be released soon with an electronic tag.

It was suggested in some quarters Newcastle had already decided to sack Barton after he this week pleaded guilty to assaulting Dabo during a City training session at the end of the 2006-07 season. That remains a possibility but it’s just one of the options available when Barton discusses his future with senior United figures on his release.

New managing director Derek Llambias is expected to be at the meeting, along with manager Kevin Keegan. The latter’s anticipated presence could be good news for Barton. Keegan is one of the England international’s few allies, or certainly was last month when he wrote a character reference for his former Manchester City player on his first court appearance of the summer.

Then, Barton admitted assault and affray in Liverpool city centre. And in another trial 10 days later he was found not guilty of criminal damage to a taxi.

His behaviour has put Newcastle in a moral quandary. The club’s previous regime invested £5.8m in signing the player last summer, plus around £3m in wages since, and will be loathe to write it off by sacking him. They could retain his registration, entitling them to a fee were he to join another club, but this would be much reduced.

Newcastle’s players are due to report back from their summer holidays on Monday and it remains unclear whether the 25-year-old will be able to join them. If he is present at Darsley Park that day it will further improve Barton’s chances of avoiding the sack. Leaked news that United last month gave Barton (pictured below) the option of staying at the club but on half his estimated £60,000 weekly wages could be used against them if the high-level meeting does not produce an agreement. If the Magpies try to sack him, Barton’s legal team would almost certainly use it to argue their motivation was financial, not moral. United, though, will be hoping it does not come to that and that Llambias is able to strike some sort of agreement which avoids another drawn-out affair with all the negative headlines accompanying it. Adding to Newcastle’s embarrassment was the release of close circuit camera footage of Barton’s assault on a passer-by in the early hours of December 27. Images of the attack, which took place in Liverpool city centre, were posted on JournalLive.co.uk along with a host of other internet sites yesterday.

Bolton Wanderers are reportedly ready to offer a solution, though it seems unlikely to appeal to Newcastle. The Trotters are said to want to take Barton on a season-long loan, but only if United pay half his wages. That would involve his current club forking out £30,000 a week on the player without either having use of his services or acting in a way that would help repair their reputation.

Meanwhile, Newcastle and Everton are haggling over compensation for coach Steve Round. The former Middlesbrough coach has been given permission to speak to the Toffees about joining as assistant manager but the clubs are in dispute over when his Newcastle contract ends. Everton think it is today but United say they have a one-year option and want compensation. “We believe it is something that can be sorted out to allow the appointment to be made,” said an Everton spokesman.

UNITED have confirmed they will play PSV Eindhoven in an August 6 pre-season friendly at St James’s Park. The game is due to kick off at 7.45pm.