The former footballer Joey Barton will remain in custody until his trial next year after a bail application was refused. The 44-year-old had been due to stand trial at Liverpool crown court last week accused of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Kevin Lynch, 51, at Fairway, Huyton, on 8 March. But on Wednesday the case was adjourned and put back to March next year.
Barton, wearing a grey zip-up fleece, appeared over video link from HMP Liverpool at a hearing on Monday, when the judge David Potter refused a renewed bail application. Barton nodded as the judge remanded him in custody in advance of a pre-trial hearing on 11 December. His trial will take place exactly a year after the alleged assault, meaning the defendant, who was arrested shortly after the incident, will have spent 12 months on remand.
Barton is accused of carrying out the attack on Lynch after they 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, was said to have sustained serious injuries to an eye. Barton, the former Manchester City and QPR midfielder, of Widnes, Cheshire, won one England cap and also played for Newcastle, Rangers, Burnley and Marseille.
After stopping playing he moved into coaching and had managerial spells at Fleetwood and Bristol Rovers.
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