Former professional footballer Joey Barton is set to remain in prison until his trial next year after a judge rejected his latest application for bail in connection with an alleged assault at a golf club in Merseyside.

The 44-year-old former England international appeared before Liverpool Crown Court via video link from HMP Liverpool on Monday. Barton, who was wearing a grey zip-up fleece during the hearing, was told by Judge David Potter that he would remain in custody while awaiting further proceedings.

Barton nodded after the judge ordered that he be remanded in custody ahead of another pre-trial hearing scheduled for December 11. His decision means the former midfielder will spend the remainder of this year behind bars before returning to court for the full trial.

Barton is accused of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to 51-year-old Kevin Lynch during an alleged incident at Huyton and Prescot Golf Club in Merseyside. The incident is alleged to have taken place on March 8, following an evening during which Barton and Lynch had been drinking together at the club.

The case had originally been scheduled to go to trial at Liverpool Crown Court last week. However, proceedings were delayed after Barton’s legal team requested additional time to investigate the case and potentially contact new witnesses.

The prosecution did not object to the request. Prosecutor Alex Leach KC accepted that further time was required, while Barton’s barrister, Tim Forte KC, argued that the defence needed an opportunity to establish whether additional witnesses could provide relevant evidence.

Judge Potter subsequently concluded that there remained what he described as “intractable problems” preventing the trial from beginning as originally planned. As a result, the judge set a new trial date for March 8, 2027.

The revised timetable means that Barton’s trial will take place exactly one year after the alleged incident. Because he was arrested relatively soon after the incident and has remained in custody, the former footballer is expected to have spent approximately 12 months on remand by the time his case reaches trial.

The allegations relate to an incident involving Lynch, a former non-league football manager who later founded NexGen Academy, a specialist school focused on supporting children with special educational needs.

Lynch is alleged to have suffered significant injuries during the incident, particularly to his eye. The reported injuries have raised concerns about the potential long-term consequences for the alleged victim, with the case involving an accusation of grievous bodily harm with intent.

Barton has not been convicted of the allegation, and the case remains before the court. The allegations against him will therefore have to be tested during the trial, where the prosecution will be required to present evidence supporting its case.

The latest bail decision means Barton will remain in HMP Liverpool while preparations for the trial continue. His legal team had sought his release before the case proceeds, but Judge Potter rejected the renewed application.

The delay is another significant development in a case that had been expected to reach trial considerably sooner. With the original hearing unable to proceed, both the prosecution and defence will now have additional time to prepare their arguments and address outstanding issues.

Barton has had a lengthy and sometimes controversial career in professional football. Born in Huyton and raised in the north-west of England, he became known as a combative midfielder during his playing days. He represented several high-profile clubs and earned one senior England cap.

His professional career included spells with Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers, Rangers, Burnley and French club Marseille. Barton was known for his aggressive style of play and outspoken personality, which frequently attracted attention both on and off the pitch.

After ending his playing career, Barton moved into management. He took charge of Fleetwood Town before later becoming manager of Bristol Rovers.

His transition into management gave him another prominent role within English football, but his public profile has remained closely associated with controversies away from the pitch as well as his football career.

The current legal proceedings represent another major development in Barton’s life. However, because the case has not yet been decided, the allegations remain unproven.

The court’s decision to postpone the trial until March 2027 also means that the legal process is likely to continue for several more months. A further pre-trial hearing is scheduled for December 11, when the court is expected to consider the progress made by both sides and address any remaining procedural matters.

The decision to refuse bail ensures that Barton will remain in custody throughout the coming months unless there is a subsequent change in circumstances or another successful bail application.

The prosecution alleges that Barton attacked Lynch after the two men had been drinking at Huyton and Prescot Golf Club. Details of the incident will be examined in greater depth during the eventual trial, where evidence from witnesses and other material gathered by investigators will be considered.

For now, Barton remains on remand and has not entered the final stage of the proceedings. His defence team will have further time to prepare before the case returns to Liverpool Crown Court.

If the trial proceeds as currently scheduled, Barton will face the court on March 8, 2027, precisely one year after the alleged assault. By that point, he will have spent around a year in custody awaiting trial.

The case is therefore likely to remain a significant legal matter for the former footballer throughout the coming year. While the allegations are serious and relate to potentially life-changing injuries suffered by Lynch, the court will ultimately determine whether Barton is guilty of the offence with which he has been charged.

Until that process is completed, Barton remains legally presumed innocent. His latest attempt to secure bail has been unsuccessful, however, leaving him in custody as preparations continue for the delayed trial.