Joey Barton pays Blackpool owners hefty settlement for “asset-stripper” comment

All that over a hyphenated word.

Joey Barton has shelled out a five-figure settlement out of court with Blackpool’s owners, the Oyston family, after admitting he wrongly labelled them asset-strippers, reports the Daily Mail.

The Burnley midfielder made the comments on BBC Radio 5Live last season, comparing the Oyston's situation to Mike Ashley during a debate about Newcastle United in March.

"Do you know what the [Newcastle] situation reminds me an awful lot of? It reminds me of Blackpool, what Oyston’s done at Blackpool where he’s asset-stripped them."

"Obviously I’m aware it’s not that far down the line but that’s what he did. The club ran at a massive profit, got to the Premier League, he took all the money out the club and stopped investing in players."

Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston sanctioned a legal letter to Barton claiming defamation, to which the Daily Mail are claiming the 33-year-old paid five-figures in compensation as well as issuing a formal apology.