Toon announce Barton silence
Midfielder told to keep quiet amid transfer turmoil
Last Updated: August 4, 2011 2:24pm
Newcastle have announced that neither the club nor Joey Barton will be making any further comment on the player's future.The Premier League side revealed on Monday that the midfielder is available on a free transfer, despite having one year left on his contract.
Barton has used his Twitter account to strongly criticise the club's hierarchy as a result and he was made to train by himself.
The 28-year-old was also hit with a fine of two weeks' wages and on Thursday only trained with Newcastle's reserves in what has developed into an ugly feud with club officials.
Newcastle are due to hold a press conference on Thursday afternoon, but the St James' Park club released an earlier statement to say that Barton's future would not be discussed.
It read: "We understand the level of interest in the club's decision to offer Joey Barton a free transfer.
Fallout"However, it would not be dignified, nor would it serve any useful purpose at this present time, for either the club or Joey to air their private issues on this matter in public.
"The club and the player have important business to focus on over the coming days and both parties have come to an agreement that we will not comment further at this time."
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias have received the most criticism from fans as a result of the fallout involving Barton.
The midfielder was one of the club's most influential players last season and his nine assists and four goals were an important factor in avoiding relegation in a first campaign back in the Premier League.
But Barton, who was a £5.8million signing from Manchester City in 2007, became unsettled in January when Andy Carroll moved to Liverpool in a British-record deal, while former captain Kevin Nolan was sold to West Ham this summer.
Nolan was allowed to leave because Newcastle did not believe that he would justify the five-year contract extension he wanted.
Barton's agent, Willie McKay, also revealed at the end of May that his client would not receive a new deal.
Arsenal, Tottenham, Stoke, Liverpool and Aston Villa have all been linked with Barton, while Bolton boss Owen Coyle has admitted his admiration of the player.
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