Source: Telegraph
Portsmouth in the hunt for Joey Barton
Barton has attracted interest from Adams, who has signalled his desire to take one of English football's most controversial characters to Fratton Park during this month's transfer window. [LNB]'It does not surprise me if there is interest because Joey Barton is a great player,' Barton's agent, Willie McKay, said on Wednesday night, although it was understood to be unlikely that a deal would be struck this month. [LNB]Despite the past misdemeanours that have overshadowed the former Manchester City playmaker's abilities, Barton is seen by Adams as an ideal recruit to halt Portsmouth's slide, with Senegalese midfielder Pape Bouba Diop having been ruled out of action for the next three months due to injury. [LNB]Barton, 26, has also been out of action for almost two months with a knee problem but he is due to return to training next week and it seems certain that Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear will be desperate to fight off Portsmouth's attentions. [LNB]With a prolonged relegation fight looming it would seem that powers-that-be at St James' Park would support Kinnear's stance even though they tried to sell Barton to Portsmouth as last summer's transfer window was about to close. [LNB]Newcastle paid £5.8 million for Barton 18 months ago but since the player signed a five-year contract he has been plagued by controversy. Last summer he served 74 days of a six-month prison sentence for affray and assault in Liverpool city centre and he was given a suspended sentence and six-match ban for a training-ground assault on former City team-mate Ousmane Dabo. [LNB]Adams knows Barton well through the Sporting Chance clinic the former Arsenal captain set up. Barton has attended the Hampshire clinic to tackle behavioural problems. [LNB]Newcastle have confirmed that their Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins will undergo operation in Germany on Jan 12. [LNB]Meanwhile, Charlton made a net loss of £11.5 million during the last financial year – and plc chairman Derek Chappell has reiterated that the main objective for the season is to secure Championship football. [LNB]Chappell made his first annual report – which covered the 12 months up to the end of June 2008 – since he stepped up to the position in March and admitted the failure to return to the Premier League at the first attempt had a big financial impact on the club. [LNB]Despite a significant reduction in operating overheads, plus profit from player sales of £3.4m, the company had an overall operating loss of £8.6m. [LNB]In the report, Chappell said: 'Last season, and again this season so far, our football performances have simply not been at an acceptable level and this must change. [LNB]'Our main task now is to secure our place in the Championship through improved performances and success on the playing field during the remainder of this season. [LNB]'Everyone connected with the football club remains determined to achieve this. We require full support for the team and its management and a united approach both on and off the pitch. [LNB]'Football clubs revolve around success on the pitch and ultimately this is essential for the continuing development of this football club.'[LNB]
