With many assuming Joey Barton was on the look-out for a new club, few doubted it was quite in this capacity.
As of June 2nd, Barton will become Head Coach of League One's Fleetwood Town.
✍️ | Fleetwood Town can confirm an agreement has been reached for @Joey7Barton to become the club's new Head Coach as of June 2nd.
Full details: https://t.co/ZPz5vAaCOD pic.twitter.com/cQ3BbjqrR7— Fleetwood Town FC (@ftfc) April 18, 2018
In a statement released by the club this afternoon, they announced their excitement at acquiring "the vastly experienced 35-year-old, who excelled during his top-flight playing career with the likes of Manchester City, Queens Park Rangers and most recently Burnley, will take charge of the club’s first team this summer after signing a three-year deal."
Speaking of the news himself, Barton declared that he is "very excited by the challenge and the project at Fleetwood Town":
It’s a club I’ve known for a long time, and a chairman I already have a very good relationship with.
My first job in management was always going to be a big decision for me and I’m delighted with the opportunity ahead, I’m joining a club with big ambitions. I’m looking forward to getting started on June 2nd.
The club's chairman Andy Pilley added that he believes Barton "has the potential to become one of the best in the new generation of coaches," stating that Barton is "someone I’ve known for a number of years and I’m convinced he’s ready to make the step into management, and that he will be a huge success."
Barton will replace in the role former Irish international John Sheridan; who had taken over the job until the end of the season.
Fleetwood Town currently sit 14th in League One, and Pilley was keen to hail "the fantastic work done by John Sheridan during the last couple of months, one he deserves huge credit for."
