• Premier League

Barton hits out at relegated QPR

ESPN staff
April 28, 2013
Joey Barton questioned the attitude of the Queens Park Rangers players © PA Photos
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On-loan Marseille midfielder Joey Barton has launched a scathing attack on parent club Queens Park Rangers following their relegation to the Championship on Sunday.

A 0-0 draw at Reading saw both clubs demoted from the Premier League and Barton, currently on a season-long loan at the Stade Velodrome, was typically forthright in the wake of the final whistle.

He questioned the attitude of the players and warned the Rs that they risk repeating the struggles of Wolves, who are on the brink of successive relegations having fallen out of the top flight a year ago.

"I can't believe QPR have just been relegated and [Jose] Bosingwa was walking down the tunnel laughing,'' Barton wrote on Twitter. "Embarrassing. Show some guts man...

"Gutted for the club. Too many w*****s amongst the playing staff. All brought in by [former manager Mark] Hughes. Some good lads but not enough. Too many maggots.

"Hope they can get a load out, if not they'll end up in a Wolves situation because trust me that Championship is a f****** hard league!

"League table doesn't lie. Both sides haven't won enough games to deserve to stay up. Reading in a better position than QPR though...''

Barton is under contract at Loftus Road until 2015 but his comments are unlikely to endear him to his QPR team-mates or manager Harry Redknapp, who suggested on Friday that the midfielder is unlikely to have a future at the club,

"He's a good player but, if you saw where Joey lives in Marseille, I would think it would be very difficult to get him back here," Redknapp said.

"You drive past the mountains and see all those big boats. He's got a nice lifestyle there so I would be surprised if he wanted to come back. He would be a good player for you, for sure.''

Rangers chief executive Philip Beard also took to Twitter after the game this afternoon, stating: "I feel for all QPR fans today. Every single one of you deserve more. We will sort this out and come back stronger. #QPR''

QPR chairman Tony Fernandes, also chairman of the Caterham Formula One team, later Tweeted: "Sorry to all QPR fans. But the plan goes on. Now more than ever. We owe it to you. Took 3 years to get Caterham right. No quitting.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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