Joey Barton Pleads Not Guilty to Alleged Assault Outside Golf Club

Ex-footballer Joey Barton has entered a not guilty plea in response to allegations of assaulting a man outside a golf club. The 43-year-old appeared via video link from HMP Liverpool during a plea hearing at Liverpool Crown Court. He denied intentionally causing grievous bodily harm to 51-year-old Kevin Lynch at Fairway in Huyton on March 8. Barton's co-defendant, Gary O'Grady, did not enter a plea during the hearing. An earlier hearing revealed that the defendants had been drinking with Lynch at Huyton and Prescot Golf Club prior to the alleged attack. Lynch, founder of NexGen Academy and a former non-league football manager, reportedly suffered serious eye injuries. A trial date has been set for September 1, with the case expected to last seven days. Barton, who has played for several top-tier teams including Manchester City and QPR, was remanded in custody, while O'Grady was granted conditional bail.