Ridiculous Barton release sends Newcastle into turmoil

Joey Barton has been transfer listed and made available on a free by Newcastle

Only Newcastle United could be in this sort of turmoil before a competitive ball has been kicked in anger.

Low morale, disillusioned players and a threadbare squad appear to be just the tip of the iceberg.

And the moronic decision to allow Joey Barton, arguably Newcastle's best player last season, to leave on a free transfer is just the latest in a string of bad calls from the club's board.

All this can be traced back to transfer deadline day in January.

Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias, clearly seeing the pound signs in their eyes, flogged local starlet Andy Carroll to Liverpool for £35million, failing to replace him.

The money they received for Carroll was undoubtedly excellent but the knock-on effects are still being felt now.

Jose Enrique and Barton both stalled on new deals while Carroll's close friend Kevin Nolan has left the club.

The off-field influence of the likes of Nolan and Barton appears to have been overlooked

Those players were Newcastle's best performers last season - along with Cheick Tiote and Fabricio Coloccini - but it now appears none of them will be lining up against Arsenal on the opening day.

Enrique is sure to leave after his ill-advised Tweets last week, while Nolan and Carroll have already left and Barton is now sure to follow them.

The heart of a very successful team has been ripped apart and the players left behind are sure to be disillusioned with the whole situation.

Regarding the decision to effectively release Barton, it was nothing short of childish from the board.

It is clear they did not want the Liverpudlian at the club this season, as his Tweets were no worse than Jose Enrique's and the Spaniard will certainly not be let go on a free.

Barton's Tweets were silly, as whatever he thinks of his employers they are still paying his wages, but he is one of the first names on the teamsheet and will be impossible to replace on a shoestring budget.

Barton's impending departure is unlikely to please Newcastle fans

His relationship with the fans, which improved throughout last season, should not be forgotten and those supporters will be enraged to see Barton leave the club.

Barton has stated his desire to stay at the club all summer - unlike Enrique - and he deserved better than this. He has made mistakes in the past but has clearly improved markedly and rectified his problems.

He struggled initially on Tyneside and last season was his only consistent one, but if it wasn't for the likes of Barton last season Newcastle could have been looking ahead to another season in the Championship.

It is hard to see what good the decision to release him does anybody.

Barton certainly doesn't appear to want to leave, while the board will now be forced to cough up cash for a replacement. The board need to come out and speak to explain their decision or they will never gain any respect from supporters.

Presuming Barton is to be replaced, the money used to replace him presumably eats into the striker transfer budget.

Manager Alan Pardew said he wanted just one more new player in yesterday - a striker - but now he is likely to have to make the money he had available for that stretch to two players. In fact, it would not be a surprise to see the club bring no more new players in.

Many have lost respect for Pardew over his perceived lack of power

It is painfully clear the club needs to bring more than just a striker in. Barton and Enrique will need to be replaced, while other positions badly need strengthening.

This whole pre-season has been nothing short of a farce, from fan trouble at Darlington to issues with visas to a doomed tour of America to key players leaving, and it doesn't bode well for the new campaign.

It is characteristic of Newcastle United to get themselves in a mess but even by their standards this is shambolic.

Morale is surely at an all-time low now and it may just be a matter of time before more players express desire to leave.

There is considerable animosity from supporters and players towards Ashley and Llambias, while manager Pardew appears to have little say in transfer dealings and is struggling to keep the respect of the dressing room.

Fans are still not convinced the £35million from the Carroll sale - which Pardew said would be reinvested - has or will be spent and the departure of key players may prove the tipping point for many.

They are seeing Newcastle's squad being dismantled bit by bit, with fans' favourites shown no respect by the board.

The whole saga will not help ticket sales.

It will be interesting to see attendance figures at St James' Park next season.

It may just be that one of the most loyal set of supporters in the land will decide enough is enough.