NEWCASTLE United are examining employment law and Joey Barton's contract after they suspended the 26-year-old yesterday “until further notice”. (Independent)The club are “gathering evidence” implying that they may seek to terminate Barton's contract, which has three years to run at a basic �55,000 per week.

NEWCASTLE United are examining employment law and Joey Barton's contract after they suspended the 26-year-old yesterday “until further notice”. (Independent)

The club are “gathering evidence” implying that they may seek to terminate Barton's contract, which has three years to run at a basic �55,000 per week.

Regardless of that, Barton will not play for the club again as long as Alan Shearer is manager.

Sam Allardyce, who brought Barton to Newcastle in 2007, could offer him a chance at Blackburn. There are thought to be boardroom reservations at Ewood Park over Barton but Allardyce persuaded the club to sign Sunderland's El-Hadji Diouf, another character seen as combustible.

If Newcastle were successful in sacking Barton, he would be a free agent and that would make him attractive to some clubs. There would also be a statement of remorse from the player of the sort that has been delivered before.

Newcastle would lose out on a fee for the player but the club would make a saving of �7.5m on his wages.

Barton was signed by Allardyce for �5.8m from Manchester City. Barton's agent, Willie McKay, said the midfielder wanted to see out the three years of his contract, but that is now unlikely.