http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/lo...ed-last-chance-marseille-move-82029-33658783/ QPR could end up with Joey Barton whether they like it or not after Marseille handed the midfielder a take-it-or-leave-it offer that would slash his pay by more than half. The man on loan to the French giants last season has a permanent deal on the Stade Velodrome table, but would have to accept close to £25,000-a-week rather than almost £70,000, which he negotiated when signing for Rs two years ago. Even though they have handed him the number 17 shirt for the new campaign, Rangers made it plain they would prefer the 30-year-old to end a troubled stay which included him being banned for the first 12 matches of last season, but they are playing hardball over the pay-off Barton is demanding for the final two years of his contract. Chronicle sport has learned Marseille want Barton and Rangers to rip up his deal so the French club can sign him on a free transfer. However, chief executive Phil Beard made it plain any exit would have to benefit Hoops as well. He said: âThe difficulty with Joey is that he makes his feelings clear to most people. âHeâs a QPR player, and if he stays with us we hope he will get involved and put effort in. âOver the last few months heâs made it clear he wasnât that excited about coming back, and if we can get the right deal for the club weâll let him move on.â But a source close to Marseille said the player who arrived back for the start of Rangersâ pre-season training two days late was anything but a priority for them. âThe club has a number of players it wishes to sign ahead of Barton,â added the insider. âHe did well for the club last season, but it must be remembered he is 30, and a two-year contract, which he seeks, has to be reflected in the Marseille budget.â Marseille president Vincent Labrune added the ball was in Rangersâ court. He said: âWe appreciate Joey and we made him an offer, but we are not masters of the game and the decision belongs to Queens Park Rangers.â Glad we are playing hard ball over this. Would hate to see him get a large golden handshake!
He'll lower his demands over the next month, and they'll hammer out an agreement. I can't see Joey with us much of the season
We are paying the price now for giving mediocre players massive wages. This has become a recurring theme unfortunately. Disastrous policy under Tony. We would have done no worse under Tango and Cash.
**** him. Why should we keep having to pay off players because they're being selfish? We aren't getting a fee for him so why would we pay his wages off to? That's a disgraceful bit of business.
Can't see any way out of it. We're paying him £3â¢5m per year in wages. We're going to have to sweeten it a bit to get him off our books.
If we are paying him, then sit him on the bench every week, better for us than paying him off. At least he won't be giving us the finger whilst getting paid by another club.
So the answer is to pay him 2.5 m and then every other player will do exactly the same, cesar , bosingwa, Ferdinand, young etc
The bottom line is he accepts a pay-cut and f*cks off to Marseille or he stays and rots. We hold the whip-hand and won't be making it easy, as he's the one who wants to go...
A whip hand that could cost us £7m for no return? They'll be a bit more brinkmanship then something will be hammered out. Hope all you tweeters are reminding him of his 'money doesn't matter' and 'I love OM' declarations.
Even if we "win" by paying him off, it will still cost us £5m and then more when other players do it. The only win is to make him leave or force him to stay in the reserves. Even if it costs £7m it will save us more (in fututre players not doing it) than the £2m wed have saved by paying him off.
All this makes me thoroughly sick. I can't believe these wan***s have been put on so much money. I haven't got much time for TF after all this; he's supposed to be a business man for goodness sake! Where's the sustainability?
If I remember correctly Barton was all in the press saying he offered to cancel his contract and walk away not so long ago. Let's see if he is prepared to follow through on his comment! Personally do not think we should pay him anything. Leaves us wide open for others to take the mick
The wages offered to 'attract' some of these 'stars' to little old QPR is obscene. What a disastrous strategy.
Why always jump to the gloomiest scenario? Why assume that it would cost £5m? It could be a lot, lot less or even nothing. Why assume that every other player we want rid of would do the same? Some might actually want to play. I'm assuming negotiation is not a part of your day job mate. Barton's biggest need is to play football, he has nothing else. All will be well.
and thus theres no need to negotiate a pay off at all. Of course every other player would want the same, the only reason they came here was for money.
Poker face him out. Tell him that he is going to train with the kids and sit on the bench, from here to his contract expires. A pay cut and playing in France would be an obvious choice, even for a twat like Barton.
He's nearly 31 (Sept 2nd) and has a £70k a week contract until he's 33 ...do you think he'll earn more than that (roughly) £7milion before retiring by moving elsewhere ? His IQ may not be high; his EQ is off the scale. JB to stay.
