Bolton rubbish Barton reports

Bolton have moved to again rubbish reports linking them with a move for disgraced midfielder Joey Barton.

The Newcastle player is serving a six-month prison sentence for assault and affray following an attack on a man outside a Liverpool McDonald’s restaurant in December last year.

There have been stories linking him with a return to football at Bolton upon his release.

But chairman Phil Gartside has already categorically stated his club will not be entering any negotiations with the 25-year-old, and today the club clarified their position further.

A Trotters spokesperson: “At no point has any representative of Bolton Wanderers expressed an interest in or made an enquiry about Joey Barton.

“We would like to reiterate that Bolton Wanderers is not interested in the services of Barton.”

Barton was last week found guilty of assaulting former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo, an offence for which he was given a four-month suspended sentence.

Dabo was left with horrific facial injuries after Barton struck him from behind and reigned blows on him during an incident at the club’s training ground at the end of the 2006-07 season.