Joey Barton: Hasn't spoken to other clubs yet.Joey Barton has now confirmed that any chance of contract talks being renewed are “slim to none” and that he was never offered any renewal on his existing deal. He also added that he would like to stay in the Premiership, but has not been in contact with any other clubs as yet.
This confirms what Barton’s agent, Willie Mackay, was saying back in May:
“I had a meeting with Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias and club secretary Lee Charnley and they have indicated Joey will not be offered a new contract.
“Joey will continue to be a Newcastle player next season and then he will leave on a free transfer at the end of his contract.
“Joey would have loved to have extended his stay at Newcastle, but unfortunately it is not to be.”
Now Barton has backed this up on his Twitter page. When asked by Twitter user Craigy Robertson: (more…)
History with Ashley or Owl Heed?Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew intimates that Joey Barton’s ‘history’ with Ashley and co might be why he has not been offered a new contract.
Alan Pardew has been talking to the press (again!) and apparently he knew Joey Barton’s contract was always going to be a problem and hints at why that might be. Pardew said:
“I spoke to Joey on the last day [of the season] and I think we were both resigned that this contract was going to be a problem.
“Both of us are thinking next year we will be together and we will go on from there.
“Unless it changes over the summer and there’s a bid in that the board, myself and Joey feel works for Joey, I think he will be here for the start of the season. The thing about contracts is, times change.
“I’m not upset about it. I was more upset when we thought we had agreed and there was a change of heart. I knew it would be a problem to come back from that.(more…)
