Kevin Keegan, the Newcastle United manager, got his way yesterday when the club announced that Joey Barton remains a Newcastle employee, but if Barton's existing five-year, £3m per annum salary continues uninterrupted or unchanged then Newcastle owner Mike Ashley will have been feeling aggrieved last night.

It was Ashley's intention to punish Barton severely, and the club's view will inevitably be contrasted with Nike's decision to terminate their sponsorship of Barton, which they did on his sentencing in May after being found guilty of assault.

Keegan's comments on Sunday about supporting Barton and welcoming back into the squad someone who has just spent 74 days in jail for a "violent and cowardly act" made Newcastle's position, and Ashley's, difficult.

Legally there is debate as to the strength of Newcastle's stance had they wished to dismiss Barton and retain his registration, but that option was less likely once Keegan had spoken of rehabilitation.

Had Newcastle announced the termination of Barton's contract yesterday, Keegan would have been embarrassed and isolated, so a fragile compromise has been reached and does little to diminish the sense of tension surrounding those at the top of the Tyneside club.

After Barton met an unspecified number of Newcastle officials with his agent, Willie McKay, yesterday morning the club released a terse statement that leaves Newcastle followers no wiser as to where Barton stands in terms of any club censure.

"Newcastle United officials can confirm that they have met with Joey Barton today, following which it has been agreed by everyone involved that Joey will remain with the club," the statement read. "The club will not be making any further comment."

It is not expected that Barton will accompany Newcastle on their pre-season trip to Spain today, which begins with the club seemingly closer to acquiring Deportivo La Coruna's centre half Fabricio Coloccini. Newcastle have bid £9.5m – rejected by Deportivo – and Coloccini's agent says the player is prepared to use Fifa's Article 17 to buy out his contract.

French club Metz were last night reporting that their 22 year-old defender Sebastien Bassong, who has been on trial on Tyneside, will be joining Newcastle.

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