The Magpies midfielder was jailed for six months on Tuesday after he admitted assault and affray at Liverpool Crown Court.

Though Barton's career with the club is hanging in the balance, manager Kevin Keegan is standing by his £60,000-a-week player, and some – but not all – of those we asked believe he is right to do so.

Steve Wraith, editor of the football fanzine Players Inc, believes the £5.8m signing will remain at St James's Park.

He said: "Barton was the most contentious signing since Lee Bowyer. He came with a lot of baggage.

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"Newcastle won't have a lot to spend in the close season, and Mike Ashley has poured £50m into the club to clear its debts.

"Because of his notoriety, Barton's market value isn't great, and the club won't want to throw away the money they paid for him by terminating his contract.

"I think he'll be given a last chance, not least because of his improved performance in the last 10 games of the season."

Shoppers in King Street, South Shields, said they wouldn't want Barton to get the boot either.

Stacey Wilson, 20, a support worker from Harton Moor, said: "Everybody should be treated exactly the same.

"I don't think they should sack him though because at the end of the day, he's only playing football."

Matthew Cunningham, 28, a barman from Tyne Dock, South Shields, said: "I think he's been taught a lesson for a change.

"It's about time footballers started taking responsibility for what they do, and not just expect to get away with it because they're famous.

"I wouldn't sack him, but I would certainly suspend him for a few months."

Care worker Marilyn Softley, 49, of Jarrow, out shopping with her two-year-old grandson Ryan Hardy, said: "It was a bit of a disgusting thing for him to do, and he's let his team down, but people do bigger crimes than he has and get less punishment.

"I think they're being a bit hard on him compared to other people."

Glynis Grieveson, 42, a sales consultant from South Shields, said not sacking Barton would send out the wrong signals.

She added: "We all make mistakes, and nobody should be penalised for life, but to keep his job open as a public figure wouldn't really set a good example for younger fans."

Jennifer Mellish, 61, of Biddick Hall, South Shields,said: "He should get sacked because he's got far too much money to start with for doing something he loves. To go out and do something like that is stupid.

"They think they can get away with it because they are stars. He should have got a harder sentence."