Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew admits he expected Joey Barton to reject new contract

Joey Barton, Newcastle United (Getty Images)

Related Links

Teams

Players

Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has admitted he felt he would have trouble persuading Joey Barton to sign a new contract at St James’ Park, but feels the midfielder will stay until the end of his current deal.

The player’s agent, Willie McKay, said earlier this week that the former Manchester City man would be leaving this summer after deciding not to sign a new contract on Tyneside.

Pardew was hoping the midfielder would be extending his stay, but in the knowledge of  previous ‘history’ between Barton and the club’s board, the former Southampton boss feared the player would not remain at St James’ Park.

He told reporters: “I spoke to Joey on the last day of the season and I think we were both resigned that this contract was going to be a problem.

“Both of us are thinking next year we will be together and we will go on from there.

“Unless it changes over the summer and there’s a bid in that the board, myself and Joey feel works for Joey, I think he will be here for the start of the season. The thing about contracts is, times change.

“I’m not upset about it. I was more upset when we thought we had agreed and there was a change of heart. I knew it would be a problem to come back from that.

“There was a lot of history between Joey and the board before I arrived. I just wanted to be honest with Joey and match him with clarity. That’s what I have done.

“I’ve been open and up front with him – I made him the captain in Kevin Nolan’s absence.

“We decided the best way was probably to wait for the season to end. Joey pulled all the way through and he will pull next year, even if he’s in his last year; I know he will.”