Joey Barton: Rovers manager to face trial over claim he attacked wife at a friend’s house

Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton will answer allegations he beat up his wife at an assault trial next month.

The 38-year-old is accused of assaulting Georgia Barton by beating at a property in Kew, south west London on June 2 this year.

He allegedly kicked her in the head and left her with a head injury and bloody nose at a property where they had been with friends.

The ex-Premier League star, of Widnes in Cheshire, married his wife two years ago at a venue in Oxfordshire.

The former midfielder played more than 250 Premier League games for Newcastle United, Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers.

He began managing League One side Fleetwood Town in 2018, before moving to Rovers in February this year, shortly before the club were relegated to League Two.

The trial date was set at Wimbledon Magistrates Court yesterday (November 17) and is due take place at the same venue on December 16.