Multimedia Background image for 'John Barnes on his early football career'
“I have to go and see players play at their clubs to select them. Three quarters of the players play in this country, places like Stoke, Bradford and London, they’re all over the country.
“I have to go to at least two matches a week so to get to, say, Norwich on a Wednesday night using public transport would probably be very difficult and getting back would be impossible.”
Barnes defended himself and told magistrates in Vale Royal his lack of car insurance was a misunderstanding.
He said that his insurance ran out while he was in the Caribbean for two months and he wrongly assumed his wife renewed it.
He added: “I’ve not brought in representation as I plead guilty. I have no other excuse. But I should have checked with my wife.”
The court was told about Barnes’ charitable commitments and his work as ambassador for Save the Children.
He also financially supports his wife and their two children, two sons at university and an ex-wife and her two children.
The England international pleaded guilty to the offence and magistrates agreed a ban would cause exceptional hardship.
The former footballer was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £35 costs within 56 days.
Road safety charities today slammed the decision saying that nobody should be considered above the law.
