Barton: Dyche is relaxed

BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche is relaxed about the E n g l i s h FA charge hanging over Joey Barton after the possibility of a ban was worked i nto contract negotiations with the player.

Barton earlier this week rejoined the Clarets on a deal until the end of the season following a brief and ill-fated stint at Rangers — but he has also been charged by the FA with placing an alleged 1,260 bets over a 10-year period.

The midfielder’s hopes of making an impact at Turf Moor received a boost yesterday when the FA granted him more time to prepare his defence against the charge, which could carry a fine and/or suspension.

The 34-year-old was initially given only two weeks to submit his case, with a deadline of 6pm yesterday but his l egal team made a successful application for an extension and now has until January 31.

Dyche hopes the midfielder can lift his squad in the same way he did during l ast year’s Championship-winning campaign but is prepared for all eventualities.

He said: “He’ll deal with that, i t ’s a s e p a r a t e situation. We’re well aware of it but that’s personal to him and the powers that be. It’s not about us.

“We’ve come to a mutual agreement with him and his advisors how t hat would work if anything happens.

“I’m sure he’ll speak to me about it in due course but he actually doesn’t need to.

“It was before he was part of our club again and before he was registered with us.”

Joey Barton