Manchester City have hit back at Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce over the delays holding up Joey Barton's move to Tyneside.

The uproar is over the clause in the midfielder's contract which governs the so far unpaid £300,000 signing-on fee, which has resulted in the deal not being completed a week after the transfer was believed to have been agreed on Tyneside.

City spokesman Paul Tyrrell said: "At no time have we divulged the details of Joey's contract, or would we ever do so with any player.

"Sadly this is now in the public domain through no fault of Manchester City.

"It is disappointing that Sam Allardyce has chosen to make these claims public. We will continue to have a good relationship with Newcastle."