Former Premier League player Joey Barton has appeared in court, along with another man, charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm after an ex-football manager suffered serious injuries outside a golf club.
Barton, 43, spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth during a 22-minute hearing at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday afternoon.
The ex-Manchester City and Newcastle United midfielder has been held in custody and questioned by police since Sunday, after emergency services were called to Huyton and Prescot Golf Club, in Merseyside, that night.
Barton, of Widnes, who wore a navy blue jumper, grey tracksuit bottoms and carried a paperback book, was denied bail and remanded in custody until his next hearing on April 7.
A second man, Gary O’Grady, 50, of Seel Road, Huyton, also appeared before the court charged with the same offence.
He was granted bail on the condition he does not contact the victim, Mr Barton, a witness or enter Huyton and Prescot golf club
In a statement earlier on Tuesday, Merseyside police said: “The victim was taken to hospital for assessment of serious injuries to his face and body. He is in a serious but stable condition in hospital.”
Chelsea Kearns, prosecuting, said that Mr Lynch is currently on an intravenous drip in hospital managing the pain after the assault. “As it stands the most recent update I have in respect of Mr Lynch is that it is currently uncertain whether he will lose sight in one of his eyes as a result of this assault,” she added.
Mr Lynch is a former manager of Northern Premier League club Prescot Cables. They compete in the seventh tier of English football.
The 51-year-old stepped down from his role with the club, which plays at the 2,070-capacity Auto Safety Centre Stadium, in February 2023. His departure was due to “personal reasons”, a report on the club website said.
Mr Lynch has also had spells as manager of National League North side Marine and City of Liverpool FC.
According to their website, Mr Lynch has also been the welfare officer at Huyton and Prescot Golf Club.
He is also the head teacher and founder of the NexGen Academy in Dovecot, Liverpool, an independent school set up to meet the needs of children with additional educational needs.
Barton played for England once during his career, which also included spells at Marseille, Queens Park Rangers, Burnley and Rangers. After retiring he went into management and coached Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers.
He parted company with Rovers in 2023, and has since launched a podcast.