Joey Barton: I'll stay at Newcastle
Published 00:00 05/06/09 By By Simon Bird
Joey Barton insists he will not be forced out of Newcastle - setting up a battle of wills with wouldbe boss Alan Shearer.
Shearer will not back down on his wish to get rid of Barton after they clashed in the dressing room over his red card at Liverpool last month.
But Barton said: "My intention is to stay so I'm concentrating on getting back to peak fitness. If Alan Shearer takes the job and if he doesn't want me then my hands are tied. But I have to get as fit as possible and prepare for all eventualities."
And Toon team-mate Alan Smith also want to stay put at St James' Park.
Smith, 28, has threeyears left on a £60,000-aweek deal. Blackburn, Wigan and Stoke have all expressed an interest - with Newcastle hoping to at least loan the striker out. But Smith, who has never scored for Toon, hopes to stay on.
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