Source: Telegraph
Newcastle suspend Joey Barton after Alan Shearer bustup
Officials at St James' Park club announced that Barton had been suspended until further notice after details leaked out about his row with Shearer after he was sent off in the 3-0 defeat at Liverpool last Sunday.[LNB]It seems likely that Barton, who is paid £65,000 per week, will be also be hit in the pocket following the relegation-threatened club's dramatic move and will have played his last game for Newcastle.[LNB] Related ArticlesThe Daily Bung: Tooners were right about Big AlBarton pledge to NewcastleIt's all about not losingShearer says Boro clash will decide fateBarton let everyone down, says ShearerShearer: Career in picsA brief statement on Newcastle's website revealed Barton had been told to stay away from the club.[LNB]'Newcastle United can confirm that Joey Barton has been suspended from the club until further notice,' the statement said. 'The club will be making no further comment on the matter at this time.'[LNB]Shearer hit the roof after Barton was ruled out for the rest of the season with a three-match ban when he was sent off for a crude tackle on Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso and the pair had to be dragged apart.[LNB]'It was unbelievable,' a source was quoted as saying today. They were like two stags.[LNB]'Shearer told Barton he had made a mistake putting him back in the team, that he thought Barton was good enough to do it but he had shown he wasn't.[LNB]'Joey shouted at Alan that he was the best player at the club, which was why he had to play him. Alan said he wasn't, called him s*** and Joey replied that he was a s*** manager with s*** tactics.[LNB]'At that point, it looked like they were going to have a full-scale brawl and had to be dragged apart.[LNB]'Shearer was really angry, not just because of the stupid red card but because it means Barton will be missing for the last three Premier League games when Newcastle need everyone available.[LNB]'Alan gave Joey the big build-up during the week, saying what an important player he could be in Newcastle's fight against relegation, and then he does that.[LNB]'You wonder what goes on in Joey's head.' The suspension is the latest in a long line of incidents that have marred Barton's career which saw him sentenced to a six-month jail sentence last year after he was convicted of assault and affray in Liverpool city centre 18 month ago.[LNB]He was also handed a six-month sentence – served concurrently – after viciously assaulting former Manchester city team-mate Ousmane Dabo in a training ground attack.[LNB]Barton, 26, joined Newcastle from Manchester City almost two years ago in a £5.8-million deal and still has three years left on his £65,000-per-week contract.[LNB]His agent, Willie McKay, yesterday insisted Barton remained committed to the club but Newcastle will probably have to send the player out on loan because his reputation and salary demands could prove prohibitive to prospective suitors.[LNB]
