Joey Barton has revealed that Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley blocked him from returning to St. James’ Park under Steve McLaren.
The 35-year-old made 84 appearances for the Magpies over a four-year spell between 2007 and 2011, before leaving the club for QPR on a free transfer.
Barton has now claimed that McLaren wanted to bring him back to Tyneside during his time as manager between in 2015, but the move was blocked by Ashley.
Speaking to the Chronicle, Barton said: “Steve McClaren wanted me to go back. That was the year I joined Burnley – he asked me to come back but Mike Ashley said you can have anybody but him! It was good to know I made that an impression on him (Ashley) because the feeling is definitely mutual.”
Barton instead joined Burnley after his second spell at QPR, which had in turn come after a stint abroad playing for Marseille in Ligue 1.
The midfielder, who is currently serving a ban for betting malpractice, further claims that the Magpies will not make any progress as long as Ashley remains owner, and slammed him for mismanaging the club.
“The club will not be the club it could be while they’ve got the owner they’ve got. He’s not going to change. It’s sad but that’s his way of doing things and I feel sorry for the supporters because they do deserve more. It’s a huge football club and it should be in the Premier League – it should never be out of it or even in a position where they’re thinking it might not be.
“It’s a sad predicament of mismanagement. They spent loads of money on players in the Championship and then get up to the Premier League and spend no money. I just don’t get it. I don’t get what he wants to do. Does he want to keep yo-yoing between the two divisions? Is that the plan? He owns the football club but it needs a change of regime,” explained Barton.
OPINION
It is interesting to hear that McLaren wanted to bring Barton back to Tyneside. The midfielder, as expected, had several controversial moments at the club, and it is no wonder to hear that Mike Ashley did not want to bring him back into the dressing room. That being said, Barton did contribute to some great moments for the club, including a starring role in that famous 4-4 draw against Arsenal. Barton obviously still loves the club, and it would have been fascinating to see where a second spell at St. James’ Park would have taken both player and club.