Keegan backs jailed Barton | inside World Soccer

Keegan backs jailed Barton

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton has been jailed for six months after being convicted of assault and affray.

Barton was arrested in Liverpool last December after involved in a fight outside a McDonald's restaurant.

He admitted the charges last month and now has been sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court, but his future could be in doubt, after the club refuse to offer him any guarantees.

Kevin Keegan said that he will fight to keep Barton in Tyneside.

The Toon manager has stood by Barton during his trial and was even a character witness at the time.

Keegan has known Barton since he was a teenager at Manchester City and sees him as key to what he is building on the club.

However, the board who have the final word and perhaps they may feel the player left too much stain to the club's reputation.

Barton still has four years left on the £40,000-a-week contract with Newcastle and the board may be tempted to cut their losses.

Support for Barton also came from Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) chief executive Gordon Taylor, saying that Barton has paid the penalty and therefore he should be given the chance to reclaim himselves. PFA have tried to help Barton and will continue to help him.

Barton come from a difficult background and has history of problems, including his alleged assault on his former City teammate Ousmane Dabo a year ago, which ended his career with the Eastland.

In May 2005 he broke a 35-year-old pedestrian's leg while driving his car through Liverpool city centre.

He was arrested on suspicion of criminal assault and damage after an alleged argument with a taxi driver in Liverpool on 2007.

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