Joey Barton leaves Fleetwood Town in mystery exit
Joey Barton has left Fleetwood Town after two-and-a-half years at the League One club.
The former Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder’s departure was confirmed on the club’s website in just a two-line statement on Monday afternoon.
It read: ‘Fleetwood Town can confirm manager Joey Barton has left the club with immediate effect.
Joey Barton has departed Fleetwood Town after two-and-a-half years in the job
Barton failed to see the funny side of a comedy act delivered by the Welsh striker
‘We would like to thank Joey for his work during his time at Highbury Stadium and wish him success in the future.
It comes just weeks after Barton fell out with striker Ched Evans, as Sportsmail first revealed.
Barton failed to see the funny side of a comedy act delivered by the former Welsh international as part of a regular Friday routine.
Barton is said to have called out a number of players in training for wearing tights and gloves to protect themselves from the cold.
Evans is said to have mocked Barton after he called out players for wearing tights and gloves
Insiders say that in his slot on The Spin, a Wheel of Fortune-style punishment game for minor offences, Evans landed on a ‘magic trick’ and produced pictures of Barton and his coaching staff mocked up as muscle-bound super heroes — and then shots of each of them wearing gloves in training sessions during their own careers.
Fleetwood, who are keen to move Evans on this month with Preston among those interested, declined to comment.
Barton leaves Fleetwood with the club in 10th position in the table, just three points off the play-off places, but with just one win in their last five.
Barton, who was capped just once by England during his playing career, took charge of Fleetwood in June 2018 just a day after the end of his 18-month suspension for placing 1,260 bets on matches between 26 March 2006 and 13 May 2016.
Fleetwood finished 11th in Barton’s first season in charge and forced their way into the play-offs last year, before they were beaten by Wycombe in the semi-finals.
