I spent nearly three years getting changed next to Joey Barton. In that time I'd say I got to know him fairly well.
Joey's an extremely complex character. I'm aware that the public have been stunned by the recent media reports about his Liverpool court case and his assault on Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo.
On the other hand I can tell you about a lad you can have a perfectly sensible conversation with.
So why does it go so wrong for Joey? The day of the latest incident at the City training ground started just like any other. It was towards the end of the session that things turned nasty. Joey and Ousmane clashed, a slightly late tackle followed by a retaliatory challenge moments later.
Nothing unusual, I've been involved in several of these myself down the years. Usually the odd derogatory comment gets thrown around, then it's over.
For some reason on this day it didn't go away. The game finished, and the insults kicked off again - in both directions. It got pretty childish, I almost laughed as I walked off to collect some practice balls.
The next moment I turned around, Ousmane was on the floor and Joey was being pulled away by other players.
I rushed over, not sure what had happened. But I realised the rest of the lads weren't happy and there was an uneasy atmosphere. It seemed it could all kick off.
I decided the best thing to do was to get Joey away. I grabbed hold of him and dragged him away, trying to prevent the situation from escalating. I believe Joey has respect for me. I didn't need to use any force to usher him away, an arm around his shoulder was enough.
He kept trying to tell me that it was self-defence. I kept telling him I wasn't interested, it didn't bother me. He was agitated but not aggressive towards me. He wanted to go back to see Ousmane (below right), to see how he was, maybe to say sorry - I don't know.
But I wasn't prepared to take the chance. One-on-one he had calmed down. It wasn't until we were back inside the changing room, when other people started questioning Joey, that he became defensive again.
His instinct to protect himself seemed to kick back in. So we decided it best to get him away from there as soon as possible.
I believe Joey's problems may not be all his own doing. However, we must all learn from our mistakes! Growing up in a bad area of town, I imagine Joey had to fight tooth and nail for everything he wanted.
No doubt that determination helped him become a Premier League player and even win an England cap, but as JOEY BARTON'S guilty plea to assaulting a team-mate last week sent his troubled career plummeting to a devastating low.
The serial offender's previous off-field violence had invariably involved alcohol consumption. At Manchester City's training ground in May 2007 Barton brutally assaulted his colleague, Ousmane Dabo.
DANNY MILLS, City's England international defender, was the man who dragged Barton off the unconscious Dabo.
Here Mills exclusively reveals what happened on the day of shame, his verdict on bad boy Joey and where Barton's career can go from here..
we know that fierce determination has to be channelled correctly - if not, when the red mist descends, it's never a good outcome.
I believe Joey needs to allow himself to be vulnerable, to show a bit of humility.
All too often he puts up barriers. He believes he's in the right no matter what is morally right or what everybody else thinks. He needs to learn that saying sorry is not a sign of weakness. Maybe in the past, growing up, any weakness would be exploited.
As an adult we have to learn that saying sorry is a sign of strength. Ever since I have known Joey he has struggled with this.
And this, coupled with his immense self-belief, is the main root of his problems. Joey thinks he is the best, or can be the best, at whatever he does..
This part of his attitude I cannot fault.
However, when others do not rise to his sometimes over-inflated standards he becomes frustrated and angry. This is when he can become dangerous to himself - and others.
He does not seem to comprehend that we all have different qualities and this is what inevitably makes a good team.
Do I feel sorry for him? No.
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Do I condone what he has done? No. Do I understand why he does what he does? I think so! Ultimately Joey has issues that are unresolved. He cannot move on in life until he has addressed them.
He will never be free of these problems but he may well be able to manage and control them. If he doesn't manage to do this I fear for him!
So where now for Joey? Somebody will always take a chance - he's a talented player so someone will always take a gamble.
Maybe Sam Allardyce leaving Newcastle was the worst thing that could have happened.
Joey needs someone on his shoulder 24 hours a day, a guide, a conscience helping him to make the right decisions.
But making the right decisions also falls upon Joey himself.
Only Joey will change Joey. Hopefully his stay at Her Majesty's pleasure will help him realise he does not want to end up there in the long term.
He has a lot to offer football and life, but all this depends on which path he takes. I fear this really is his last chance, he needs to realise this and change.
For his sake, I hope he does!
Sept 1982: Born in Huyton, Merseyside.
Nov 2002: Misses planned debut for Man City against Middlesbrough after leaving his shirt on the bench at half-time.
Apr 2003: First appearance for City against Bolton.
July 2004: Sparks 10-man brawl in friendly at Doncaster after hacking down a Rovers player.
Dec 2004: Stubs out a cigar in youth player Jamie Tandy's eye at Christmas party (below). Fined £60,000.
July 2005: Sent home from pre-season tour of Thailand after assaulting a 15-yearold Everton fan. Fined £120,000.
Sept 2006: Moons Everton fans at Goodison Park. Fined £2,000.
Feb 2007: Makes England debut in defeat to Spain at Old Trafford (above).
May 2007: Fined £100,000 and suspended until the end of the season after Life and crimes of Joey Barton assaulting Ousmane Dabo at City's Carrington training ground.
June 2007: Joins Newcastle for £5.8million, but injuries delay his debut until October.
Nov 2007: Calls for Barton to be banned after a reckless challenge on Sunderland's Dickson Etuhu during a Tyne-Wear derby.
Dec 2007: Caught on CCTV assaulting a man and a teenage boy in Liverpool city centre on a Boxing Day night out with his brother and cousin (below).
May 2008: Sentenced to six months in jail for his part in the assault. A four-month suspended sentence is handed out for his assault on Dabo while he is serving his sentence.
Compiled by Rory Smith
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