Barton was released by Burnley in May 2017, as he was banned from football for 18 months after admitting a Football Association charge in relation to betting. Joey Barton has taken on his biggest challenge yet by making the first step into management as head coach at Fleetwood, according to the midfielder's former boss Sam Allardyce. The 35-year-old, who was most recently at Burnley, has signed a three-year contract from June 2, when his suspension for breaking Football Association betting rules expires. Barton played for Allardyce at Newcastle from the summer of 2007 to January 2008. "I think he was too young at that time [when at Newcastle], he was...