Joey Barton's future at Newcastle United appears likely to remain unresolved until early July. Although Kevin Keegan is understood to be anxious to stand by the midfielder, who received a six-month jail sentence for assault and affray yesterday, it is the outcome of a subsequent case that could well determine whether Newcastle decide to either keep faith with the player or terminate his contract.
Barton is due to stand trial in Manchester on June 30 on a separate charge, the alleged assault of his former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo a year ago, to which he pleads "not guilty", and much depends on the verdict.
Newcastle issued a statement last night which suggested that various options are being contemplated by Chris Mort, the club's chairman, and Mike Ashley, the owner. "Newcastle United notes the sentence passed to Joey Barton at Liverpool crown court," it read. "The club is considering the verdict and will be making no further comment at this moment."
Even so, Keegan, who appeared as a character witness in support of Barton yesterday, has spoken of the "unequivocal support" he intends to offer a player he first worked with when Manchester City's manager. Privately though Ashley and Mort may have cause to regret allowing Newcastle's former manager, Sam Allardyce, to sign Barton for £5.8m from City last summer on a five-year deal and a weekly salary understood to be £60,000.
As Barton will be unable to fulfil his contract with Newcastle this summer the club can terminate it on the grounds that the agreement has been "frustrated" but with the 25-year-old having recently been receiving treatment from the Sporting Chance Clinic and pledging to turn over a new leaf this course of action seems likely, for the moment at least, to be resisted.
Gordon Taylor, the PFA chief executive, said: "Whether he has a future at Newcastle will be a decision for the club. He's come from a difficult background and had a history of troubles. We've tried to help and will continue to try to help. But no footballer is above the law of the land."