Former footballer Joey Barton could remain behind bars until next year after his trial over an alleged attack on a man outside a Merseyside golf club was pushed back to March 2027, extending a period in custody that began in March this year.
Former Premier League footballer Joey Barton could remain in prison until next year after his trial over an alleged attack outside a golf club was delayed. The 44-year-old ex-England international denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Kevin Lynch, 51, at Fairway golf club in Huyton on 8 March. Barton had been due to face trial this week, but at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, Judge David Potter adjourned proceedings to 8 March 2027, a delay that could see Barton remain in jail for a further six months. The case is now expected to last two weeks.
What happened in court
Barton appeared in court for the hearing, which fell on his birthday, wearing a navy blue suit, tie and blue shirt. As he left the dock, he gave a thumbs up gesture to a man seated in the public gallery. He was remanded in custody following the hearing and is due to appear again for a bail application on Monday.
Barton has been held in custody since 10 March 2026, after his initial bail application was refused. A further bail application before Judge David Potter on 20 March was also rejected. His co-defendant in the case, Gary O’Grady, was released on conditional bail, meaning the two men have faced different custody arrangements throughout the proceedings.
The trial was originally scheduled to last seven days, but the newly set March 2027 date is now expected to run for two weeks, suggesting the case has since been allocated substantially more court time.
What is alleged to have happened
The alleged attack is said to have taken place after Barton had been drinking with Lynch at Huyton and Prescot Golf Club. Prosecutors have previously told the court that CCTV footage showed the pair having what appeared to be a heated discussion shortly before the alleged assault.
Lynch, a former non-league football manager and founder of special education school NexGen Academy, was said to have suffered serious injuries to his eye, and was previously described as being in a serious but stable condition in hospital, with severe injuries to his face and body. Earlier reporting indicated Lynch’s eye injuries were serious enough that doctors feared he could potentially lose sight in the affected eye. Lynch previously managed non-league side Prescot Cables, adding a further football connection between him and Barton.
Barton’s football career
Barton, of Widnes, Cheshire, made one appearance for England during a playing career that also included spells at Manchester City, QPR, Newcastle, Rangers, Burnley and Marseille. He retired from playing in 2017 before moving into management the following year with Fleetwood Town.
He spent three years at Fleetwood before taking charge of Bristol Rovers in 2021. He was sacked from that role in October 2023 and has not returned to management since.
A string of recent legal proceedings
The golf club case is the latest in a series of legal matters to have involved Barton over the past 18 months. In March 2025, he was convicted of assaulting his wife and given a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for two years. At the time, he said he intended to appeal against the conviction.
In December 2025, Barton received a further suspended sentence, six months suspended for 18 months, after being convicted of six counts relating to grossly offensive electronic communications targeting Eni Aluko, Lucy Ward and Jeremy Vine.
Separately, in March 2026, Barton was ordered to pay £339,000, plus interest and costs, to Eni Aluko following a High Court libel and harassment case. The court also imposed an injunction preventing him from publishing further references to Aluko. Barton was unable to attend that High Court hearing in person, as he was already in custody in connection with the alleged golf club attack.
