Barton says he is not worried about jail ... well we will see when that big door closes and he hasn't got his 'gang' with him.
The Toon midfielder was still out on bail over his alleged assault on former Manchester City team mate Ousmane Dabo.
And that case will REALLY have Barton's arse twitching!
Joey's previous misdemeanours include stubbing out a cigar in the eye of a fellow player, running a Liverpool supporter over in his car and being sent home from a pre-season tour after an altercation with a 15-year-old opposition fan.
Although Kevin Keegan is understood to be anxious to stand by the midfielder, who received a six-month jail sentence for assault and affray yesterday, it is the outcome of a subsequent case that could well determine whether Newcastle decide to either keep faith with the player or terminate his contract.
Barton is due to stand trial in Manchester on June 30 for the alleged assault of Ousmane Dabo a year ago, to which he pleads "not guilty", and much depends on the verdict.
Chris Mort, the club's chairman, and Mike Ashley, the owner, can do without this.
Keegan should look at the facts rather than stick up for man simply because he is a Newcastle footballer.
We need players who make headlines on the back of the newspapers ... not idiots like Barton who has made a bigger splash on the front pages.
He has been a waste of money this season, showing the odd glimmer of something special, but 90% rubbish.
Is he good enough for Newcastle? He is not worth the hassle.
Keegan, who appeared as a character witness in support of Barton yesterday, has spoken of the "unequivocal support" he intends to offer a player he first worked with when Manchester City's manager.
But Ashley and Mort have cause to regret allowing Newcastle's former manager, Sam Allardyce, to sign Barton for £5.8m from City last summer on a five-year deal and a weekly salary understood to be £60,000.
As Barton will be unable to fulfil his contract with Newcastle this summer the club can terminate it on the grounds that the agreement has been "frustrated" but with the 25-year-old having recently been receiving treatment from the Sporting Chance Clinic and pledging to turn over a new leaf this course of action seems likely, for the moment at least, to be resisted.