Barton’s eager to seize chance in hot seat

JOEY Barton admitted he regrets the way his playing career ended as he took his first steps as a manager with Fleetwood. Barton, 35, signed a three-year deal in April to take his first job in management and was introduced to the media yesterday – three days after his 13-month ban for illegal betting had ended. That ban cut short a stint at Burnley, which proved the final act of Barton’s playing career as he will now focus entirely on his new role. “Certainly, since the age of about 28/29, I’ve always wanted to coach,” said Barton. “I’ve always thought I’d really love to coach and to stay in the game and give something back after I wasn’t able to play. “The way that happened, I probably would have liked to have gone out under my own steam as opposed to getting an FA ban to put the final nail in the coffin. “But the world works in mysterious ways and I’ve got a fantastic opportunity at a really exciting period in this football club’s history and I’m really looking forward to everything that brings.” The former Manchester City, Newcastle, QPR and Rangers midfielder, who won one senior

I didn’t have the skills leaving school to cope with what modern-day football threw at me Joey Barton

cap for England against Spain in 2007, was suspended from all football activities for 18 months in 2017, reduced by five months on appeal, for placing over 1,200 bets on football matches during a 10-year period.

Barton’s playing career was overshadowed by other misdemeanours off the pitch. He served a two-month prison sentence in 2008 for assault, but refuses to hide from his chequered past and insisted his experiences will stand him, and Fleetwood, in good stead.

“I grew up in a public arena, which I had to do,” he said. “I didn’t have all the skills to deal with being famous, if that’s what we are, or infamous.

“I didn’t have the skills leaving school to cope with what modern-day football threw at me.

“But as a 35-year-old, ex-professional footballer I certainly feel I’ve got a lot more skills than I had before and that comes with naturally maturing and becoming a man.

“I’m not perfect, far from it. But I’m a lot better version than I was when I started out in my playing journey and if you keep that progress in mind and keep moving in the right direction, I think life tends to reward you for that.”

Barton said there was more to life than winning football matches, which raised a smile from Fleetwood owner Andy Pilley.