Alan Shearer reveals how he tore into Joey Barton before Newcastle axe
By Danny Wright
Alan Shearer has revealed how he tore into Joey Barton before he was given the axe from his short-lived managerial spell at Newcastle United.
Barton was shown a straight red card in his one and only appearance under the charge of Shearer against Liverpool at Anfield before the Magpies suffered their first ever relegation from the Premier League in 2009.
The St. James’ Park legend has retold the story of how he lost his cool with the former Newcastle midfielder after he suggested that his lack of temperament cost the club their chances of survival by being banned for the last three games of the campaign.
Shearer even revealed that even though there were weeks left of the season, he didn’t even see Barton for the rest of what was a very short spell as club manager.
“I was angry,” said Shearer on the True Geordie Podcast on The True Geordie’s Youtube account.
“We were about to take him off and in front of the Kop he scythes Xabi Alonso down, straight red card, suspended for the last three games of the season.
“He let me down, he let the club down and I just thought it was my time to tell him some home truths in the dressing room.
“I told him what I thought, what everyone else was thinking and saying, and that was it, I never saw him again after that.
“I didn’t want him back.”
Barton’s career has been plagued with controversy and although he was never shown the exit door after his red card at Liverpool, Shearer was soon after as he presided over their relegation.
The midfielder went on to play for QPR, Marseille, Burnley and Rangers, with spells at all clubs having some kind of infamous moment attached to them, arraying from dodgy French accents to gambling bans.
In other Newcastle United news, the Magpies are plotting a seven-figure swoop for this Europa League defender in January.
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