Joey Barton, the 44-year-old former Manchester City and QPR midfielder, has had a renewed bail application turned down by Judge David Potter at a hearing on Monday. According to The Guardian Football, Barton appeared over video link from HMP Liverpool, wearing a grey zip-up fleece, and nodded as the judge remanded him in custody in advance of a pre-trial hearing on 11 December. Barton's trial has been pushed back to March next year, meaning he will have spent 12 months on remand by the time he stands trial.
Barton is accused of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Kevin Lynch, 51, at Fairway, Huyton, on 8 March. The alleged assault occurred after the two men had been drinking together at Huyton and Prescot golf club. Lynch, a former non-league football manager and founder of the special education school NexGen Academy, sustained serious injuries to an eye.
Barton's trial will take place exactly a year after the alleged assault, and he will remain in custody until then.