Nike Ends Deal With Barton
Nike have canceled their five-figure contract with Joey Barton following the midfielder's conviction for assault
Newcastle United yesterday confirmed that Joey Barton will be staying on the St James' Park payroll with his existing £65,000-a-week salary intact, but the midfielder's sponsorship deal with Nike has been terminated.
As Kevin Keegan prepared to welcome Barton back into his somewhat shallow squad, the sportswear company revealed that it had curtailed its agreement with the 25-year-old. Leo Sandino-Taylor, a Nike spokesman, said: "While Joey Barton is a talented footballer, we cannot condone or accept what he did and his contract has been terminated. We have provisions in all our sponsorship contracts to take into account any actions by athletes that bring the brand into disrepute."
It is understood that Nike officials made the initial decision to dispense with Barton - whose two-year arrangement with the company is believed to have been worth £40,000 a year - when he was imprisoned for assault in May.
Keegan, who takes his squad, minus Barton, to Mallorca for a pre-season tournament today, hopes to complete the signing of Fabricio Coloccini, Deportivo La Coruña's Argentinian center-half or right-back. Personal terms have been agreed but Deportivo have rejected Newcastle's £9.5m offer and are demanding £11m.
Newcastle have reached agreement to sign another centre-half, however, the France Under-21 international Sébastien Bassong. The Metz defender has been on trial at the club and played in the pre-season defeat at Doncaster on Saturday.
As Kevin Keegan prepared to welcome Barton back into his somewhat shallow squad, the sportswear company revealed that it had curtailed its agreement with the 25-year-old. Leo Sandino-Taylor, a Nike spokesman, said: "While Joey Barton is a talented footballer, we cannot condone or accept what he did and his contract has been terminated. We have provisions in all our sponsorship contracts to take into account any actions by athletes that bring the brand into disrepute."
It is understood that Nike officials made the initial decision to dispense with Barton - whose two-year arrangement with the company is believed to have been worth £40,000 a year - when he was imprisoned for assault in May.
Keegan, who takes his squad, minus Barton, to Mallorca for a pre-season tournament today, hopes to complete the signing of Fabricio Coloccini, Deportivo La Coruña's Argentinian center-half or right-back. Personal terms have been agreed but Deportivo have rejected Newcastle's £9.5m offer and are demanding £11m.
Newcastle have reached agreement to sign another centre-half, however, the France Under-21 international Sébastien Bassong. The Metz defender has been on trial at the club and played in the pre-season defeat at Doncaster on Saturday.
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