Joey Barton has denied assaulting a man outside a golf club.
The former Premier League footballer and one-time England international, of Widnes, Cheshire, appeared via videolink from HMP Liverpool for a plea hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday.
He pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Kevin Lynch, 51, at Fairway, Huyton - near to Huyton and Prescot Golf Club - on 8 March.
Barton’s co-defendant Gary O’Grady, 50, of Huyton, Merseyside, was not asked to enter a plea to the charge on Tuesday.
The ex-footballer will face a trial, as honorary recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC set a date for 1 September, with the case expected to last seven days.
The 15-minute hearing on Tuesday also dealt with administrative matters.
Barton was remanded in custody, while the judge renewed conditional bail for O’Grady, who was supported in court by several family members.
Former Manchester City and QPR midfielder Barton was born in Huyton and has one England cap. He also played for Newcastle, Rangers, Marseille and Burnley before hanging up his boots in 2017.
He went on to manage Fleetwood Town between 2018 and 2021, prior to spending two years at Bristol Rovers between 2021 and 2023.
He now hosts podcast Common Sense With Joey Barton, which is described as an “unfiltered” look at issues in sport, society, politics and more.
