Joey Barton to remain in custody following bail denial
Joey Barton will remain in jail for the rest of the year after having his bail denied over an alleged assault at a golf club, reports BritPanorama.
The 44-year-old’s bail application was denied by Judge David Potter, meaning he will be held at HMP Liverpool ahead of his trial next year.
Barton appeared via videolink on Monday before the Judge at Liverpool Crown Court, dressed in a grey zip-up fleece, and nodded when told he would remain in custody. He faces a charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent against Kevin Lynch, 51, following an alleged attack at the Huyton and Prescot golf club in Merseyside on March 8.
His trial has now been scheduled for March 8, 2027, marking one year since the alleged assault. The victim, a former non-league football manager and founder of NexGen Academy, reportedly sustained serious injuries to his eye during the incident. Accounts suggest the two had been drinking together at the golf club prior to the alleged attack.
Barton’s trial was originally set to begin on September 1, but his barrister, Tim Forte KC, requested an adjournment to contact potential new witnesses, a request that prosecution counsel, Alex Leach KC, did not oppose. Judge Potter identified “intractable problems” that prevented the case from proceeding as planned, leading to the trial date being pushed back.
A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for December 11. Barton, who resides in Widnes, Cheshire, has been in custody since his arrest shortly after the alleged incident. During his playing career, he represented clubs such as Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers, Rangers, Burnley, and Marseille, earning one cap for England.
After retiring from professional football, Barton transitioned to management, leading Fleetwood Town and later Bristol Rovers. As the trial approaches, he faces an anxious wait behind bars until his case is heard.
The unfolding tale of Joey Barton provides a stark reminder of the intersection between sports fame and personal accountability, each chapter echoing the choices that define a public life.
