Headteacher seen for first time since 'Joey Barton golf club assault'

The man allegedly assaulted by former footballer Joey Barton has been pictured for the first time since being seriously injured in a golf club fight.

Father-of-two Kevin Lynch, 51, suffered facial injuries and feared losing sight in his left eye after allegedly being attacked by the ex-Manchester City midfielder last month.

Mr Lynch - a headteacher of a school for children with additional needs - was said to have been assaulted at Huyton and Prescot Golf Club, near Liverpool, on March 8.

He was today pictured for the first time since being discharged from hospital, leaving his semi-detached home in Prescot.

Mr Lynch, a married former semi-professional football, appeared to be sporting bruising to his forehead and near his left eye socket.

Barton, 43, was remanded in custody in the wake of the alleged attack.

He was charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm with intent, alongside his friend and roofer Gary O'Grady, 50.

Police previously said that Mr Lynch was left in a serious but stable condition.

A court was last month told that he had suffered injuries to his face and ribs, and faced the possibility of losing sight in one eye.

It is understood that Mr Lynch, Barton and O'Grady were all known to one another and are registered as members at the £1,440-a-year Huyton and Prescot Golf Club.

Paramedics were called at about 9pm on Sunday, March 8 after Mr Lynch was found injured near to the club.

Neighbours described hearing a man groaning in pain and seeing pools of blood on the street before paramedics arrived.

Mr Lynch, who has previously managed Prescot Cables FC, Marine AFC and City of Liverpool FC, is also the founder and headteacher of NexGen Academy, a school for children with additional needs, in Liverpool.

While on a losing run of form at Marine, the deeply religious manager asked his local priest to drive away evil by blessing the team's pitch.

Mr Lynch told his local newspaper in 2010: 'I will feel better that the pitch has had the blessing of God. It makes me feel a lot better in terms of my own faith.'

Barton made one England appearance and also played for Rangers, Burnley, QPR and Marseille before stints in management at Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers.

He later launched his own podcast, Common Sense with Joey Barton.

Barton, from Widnes, Cheshire, is due to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on April 7.