Joey Barton must banish the "demons" that have led him "completely off the rails" and into jail, says Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor has warned.
Taylor: "No doubt the judge, like us (the PFA), will be hoping that this term in prison will have made him come to terms with his problems - and I hope he's eradicated them for the sake of his life and his football career.
Taylor Gives Warning To Toon Star!
By Nu Mad
Updated Wednesday, 2nd July 2008
"It's one of those strange situations that when you talk to the lad in the cold light of day he's quiet, he's calm, he's considered.
"But he has those demons - there's no doubt they're there. He's been fortunate with this [latest] sentence, that it's been suspended.
"We encouraged him to take use of our facility at Tony Adams' Sporting Chance clinic that is staffed by people who have been through and have had various addictive problems.
"With Joey Barton, it's been anger management and it's also problems with alcohol. I was hoping that the incarceration, to be in prison, would be a catalyst.
"It's a sad case. He's completely off the rails - and if it carries on like this, he'll continue to cause suffering to people," he added.
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