It takes a brave man to take on the big ball of crazy that is Joey Barton, but in the winter of 2009, that is exactly what Gary Megson attempted to do. Midway through Newcastle's relegation season of 08/09, Bolton began to swoop like a vulture, ready to feast on the carcass of the once-proud north-east club. With the supporters voicing their disapproval at the ownership and performances on the pitch continuing to appall - sound familiar? - Bolton tabled a £2 million bid for the Huyton-born trouble-maker. Sidelined with a ligament injury, Barton had made no impact on the season, and indeed his time on Tyneside was only notable for a spell spent behind bars. This was the former Man City midfielder before he got his act together at St. James' Park, and the Lancashire club felt they could exploit the patchy relationship between player and support. However, the north-east club were not willing to part ways so readily with a player they had invested £5.8 million in 18 months previously, and especially not in the middle of a relegation dogfight. The derisory offer was instantaneously rebuffed, leaving Megson disappointed but judging by his statement, at the same time slightly relieved for not having to contend with the volatile midfielder's antics.
''We move on. Joey is a good player and a former England international, but he has certainly had his problems. There is an amount we would go to and that's it. We would not go any further.'' - Gary Megson, January 2009.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
