Joey Barton Pleads Not Guilty to Alleged Assault Outside Golf Club

Joey Barton, a former professional footballer, has entered a not guilty plea in response to allegations of assaulting a man outside a golf club. The 43-year-old appeared in court via videolink from HMP Liverpool, wearing a grey fleece and glasses, for the plea hearing at Liverpool Crown Court. He is accused of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to 51-year-old Kevin Lynch at Fairway in Huyton on March 8. Barton's co-defendant, 50-year-old Gary O'Grady, did not enter a plea during the hearing. According to earlier court proceedings, the defendants had been drinking with Mr Lynch at Huyton and Prescot Golf Club prior to the alleged incident. Mr Lynch, founder of the NexGen Academy and a former non-league football manager, reportedly suffered serious eye injuries. The trial is set to commence on September 1 and is expected to last seven days. Barton, who has been remanded in custody, is a former midfielder for several prominent football clubs, including Manchester City, QPR, and Marseille, and currently hosts the podcast 'Common Sense With Joey Barton'.