Allardyce pleads for a Barton reprieve: Big Same fears for Newcastle midfielder

Allardyce, who took Barton to St James' Park from Manchester City a year ago, fears that the player could slide into depression and even feel suicidal if kicked out of the game.

Barton, 25, was last week given a four month sentence suspended for two years for assaulting team-mate Ousmane Dabo when they were at Manchester City.

Jailed: But should Joey Barton be given another chance?

He is already serving a jail term for punching a man during a violent night out in Liverpool. Allardyce, sacked by Newcastle in January, caused a storm when he paid £5.8million for the controversial Barton last summer.

But in his regular column for a Middle East newspaper, The National, he defended his decision to sign Barton and warned there could be longterm repercussions for the midfielder if he is axed now.

Allardyce said: 'If Newcastle sack him, then it will be another punishment and defeat the objective of Joey trying to put things right and become a better person.

'It could also be dangerous to take away football from him. He is a complete football man. His life revolves around it; there's nothing else. Without it, he could re-offend and, even worse, go into a depression.

'We've had people in the past committing suicide because they could not cope with life after professional football. Dave Clement, who was with me at Bolton, was one at 34 and it's very sad when something like that happens.

'If Newcastle keep Joey, this is the last chance for him. He is fighting for his future because I don't think anyone will take him if he steps out of line again. He owes it to the club and playing could help rehabilitate him, especially if he puts something back into the community like working with kids.

'Joey has had help but he needs to do things for himself now. There is no point blaming other people any more. It's down to him to steer clear of the people who are not good for him, to steer clear of alcohol and to control his anger.

'Inside, he will have had time to reflect on what's happened and I'm sure that he will not want to go through it all again. Prison is the ultimate punishment and if this doesn't make him want to get things right, then nothing will.

'If he comes out with an electronic tag around his ankle, that will be a constant reminder about the experience and make him grateful he has a second chance.

'What he did was wrong and you cannot say he does not deserve what has happened to him. But I also believe that if you have served your sentence in the justice system then you have been punished.' Allardyce, looking to get back into football, acknowledges that his decision to sign Barton had been risky. Many people regarded it as a contributory factor in his own dismissal.

Allardyce added: 'When I signed Joey I knew about his troubles. I had asked about him and I asked him directly. He told me he was working on his problems, like alcohol, and getting expert help at the Sporting Chance clinic.

'I believe in giving people a fair chance and I took him for his honesty and his football talent. He wanted to do well and we didn't have any problems with him up at Newcastle. It was only when he went back to Liverpool and was with family and friends and went out drinking that the problems occurred.

'There is no question he has ability, but that won't make any difference if he cannot control himself off the pitch. He has to gain everyone's trust again - not only as a footballer, but also as a person.'