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Stuart McCall comments on Joey Barton’s spell at Rangers

Rangers manager Stuart McCall (Reuters)
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Mark Warburton’s marquee summer arrival at Ibrox was a Rangers flop.

Former Rangers player and manager Stuart McCall has been commenting Joey Barton’s time at Ibrox.

Mark Warburton decided his midfield needed an experienced head this summer so made a move to bring in the veteran maestro from Burnley – where he had just had a fine season.

But the free transfer proved to be a disaster. He struggled for form, proved an antagonist in the media and soon suffered a major fallout with the club.

Rangers manager Stuart McCallFormer Rangers manager Stuart McCall

Rangers released him and he re-signed for Burnley recently.

McCall, who spent seven years as a player at Ibrox before a brief interim spell as manager in 2015, spoke to the Scottish Sun this week about Rangers season so far and admits he felt Barton would be a good signing for Rangers, despite his early doubts:

“I remember at the time of the Barton signing thinking: ‘That’s a big statement from Rangers’.

“But to bring someone like Rodgers in as boss was a massive coup for Celtic.

“As the season progressed, the Barton thing didn’t work out and Rodgers worked out magnificently, because I’m looking at Celtic and they have only brought in a couple of players.”

Rangers' Joey Barton looks dejectedRangers’ Joey Barton looks dejected

It was of course a move that proved a big mistake from Warburton and Rangers but on paper looked like it would be a success.

Rangers have recently brought in Emerson Hyndman on loan from Bournemouth in a deal that effectively replaces Barton after his departure.

Rangers fans will be hoping he can have a better impact at Ibrox then Barton’s horror spell in Glasgow.