Calvin's Comment: Michael Calvin's Joey Barton verdict

By Michael Calvin 7/07/2008

Joey Barton (PA)

Let's face facts. Joey Barton will be playing for someone, somewhere, soon.

That's the way things work in football. It's an immoral, exploitative business. He's protected by a moderate talent worth millions in a world which worships the law of supply and demand.

Should Newcastle sack him, Barton will not need to sacrifice a penny of his £60,000 weekly wage. As a free agent, he'd probably be in line for a rise. It won't matter that thugs like him turn our streets into no-go zones. People will talk solemnly of his right to another chance.

Too bad that, in reality, he's a serial offender whose contrition is inspired by nothing nobler than self-pity. Let's not forget his idea of a professional athlete's lifestyle is to drink 10 pints, and five bottles of lager, on a night out during a pivotal phase of the season.

We won't even mention that attack on a team-mate. We'll just wait for his inevitable reinvention.

All this puts Newcastle owner Mike Ashley (right) in the worst possible place. He has to fans who Barton an to cherished He has to the instincts made him one Britain's richest and give a valuable He has to between and It will us a lot him.