Dubai: Trevor Steven says Joey Barton only has himself to blame after being sidelined at Rangers.
Barton, 34, only joined the Scottish side from Burnley over the summer, but was suspended following a training ground bust-up with teammate Andy Halliday, and charged with breaking rules relating to gambling on matches.
Barton arrived at the club’s training base on Thursday for training for the first time since mid-September, but is not expected to be involved with the first team.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Sixteen10 Mike Clark Charity Golf Day at the Address Montgomerie on Thursday, Steven, 53 — whose career almost mirrors Barton’s having also played for Burnley, Everton, Marseille and Rangers — told Gulf News: “I know Joey a little bit and he’s great in certain circumstances.
“But he spoils himself at times and if you can’t stop that in your mid-thirties there’s no excuse, you can’t be falling out with football clubs when you’re experienced.
“I’ve lost a lot of respect for him because he should know better. You can’t go cavaliering into a football club — the biggest he’s ever played for — who do you think you are?
“It seems the door is open for him to go back but the issue is with the fans, the team might do better with him but sometimes you’ve got to stand by your principles, but then again he’s got a contract. If you have to pay him to leave why not pay him to play?
“Nobody is going to buy him so you would have to give him a free transfer, which is going to cost Rangers, I don’t think there’s an obvious way out, that’s the problem with headstrong players who are potentially disruptive.”
Was Barton an informed purchase for Rangers despite his chequered past? “For me no. If Rangers were sending out a message to outmuscle Celtic, for me that’s not going to do it.”
