Former footballer Joey Barton has denied an assault on a man at a Merseyside golf club.

Barton, 43, who was denied bail at an earlier magistrates hearing, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court by video link from Liverpool prison for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Along with his co-defendant, 50-year-old Gary O'Grady, he is charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent on former non-league football manager Kevin Lynch, 51, at Huyton and Prescot Golf Club on 8 March.

Barton, of Widnes, was remanded into custody, and faces a seven-day trial starting 1 September.

An earlier court hearing was told the defendants had been drinking with Lynch at Huyton and Prescot Golf Club before the alleged attack.

Lynch, a former non-league football manager and founder of special education school NexGen Academy, was said to have suffered serious injuries to his eye.

O'Grady appeared in court but did not enter a plea.

Barton made one England appearance and played for Manchester City, Newcastle United, QPR, Rangers, Burnley and Marseille.

He also managed Fleetwood.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.

Mapping the DNA of Crinkle, a Barbary macaque at Trentham Monkey Forest, will fight wildlife crime.

Some 150,000 people are expected to attend the three-day event in Aintree, which starts on Thursday.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk apologises to the supporters and says his side "gave up" during their 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final defeat by Manchester City.

More than 150,000 racegoers are expected at the three-day event at Aintree racecourse.

Nobody would have believed that 12 months on from Liverpool's title win, a fanbase so united behind its team and its manager would be, at best, apathetic as to whether Arne Slot remains in the job.