Joey Barton Pleads Not Guilty to Alleged Assault Outside Golf Course

Former English football player Joey Barton has entered a not guilty plea regarding an alleged assault that occurred outside a golf club. The 43-year-old appeared remotely from HMP Liverpool for the plea hearing at Liverpool Crown Court. Barton is accused of intentionally causing grievous bodily harm to 51-year-old Kevin Lynch at Fairway in Huyton on March 8. His co-defendant, 50-year-old Gary O'Grady, did not enter a plea during the hearing. The court was previously informed that the defendants had been drinking with Lynch at the Huyton and Prescot Golf Club prior to the alleged incident. Lynch, founder of NexGen Academy and a former non-league football manager, reportedly suffered serious eye injuries. The trial is set to begin on September 1 and is expected to last seven days. The judge set a trial date and dealt with administrative matters during the 15-minute hearing. Barton, who has been remanded in custody, is a former midfielder for several prominent football clubs, including Manchester City and QPR, and currently hosts the podcast Common Sense With Joey Barton.