Dyche: I’m hereifhe ever wants any advice
JOEY BARTON has discovered what a lonely place Glasgow can be following his three-week suspension from Rangers on Monday.
Ex-Rangers players have been queuing up to stick the knife in Barton’s career prospects at Ibrox, but the controversial midfielder has been praised by his former gaffer, Sean Dyche.
The Burnley manager enjoyed a very successful working relationship with the Rangers man last season.
There was not a hint of trouble as Barton did the business on the pitch and kept his nose clean off it while Burnley won the Championship.
And if the Englishman needs a friendly word of advice, Dyche will be more than happy to offer it.
“If Joey wanted to, I would certainly speak to him as I would do with any of my players,” he says.
“He hasn’t rung me yet but he could do.
“I’ve always tried to put myself out for my players, present or past.
“Let’s face it, this is only a ‘so far’ story. We don’t know how this is going to open up.
“If it all settles down and Joey gets on with his football, and is given a chance to get on with his football, there is no reason why he can’t be a great success at Rangers.”
More than virtually any other manager, Dyche knew the buttons to press to make the most of Barton’s undoubted ability.
And he explains what the secret was to getting the Scouser onside.
“People asked me how I was going to manage Joey Barton,” he states.
“But I didn’t try to manage him and I made that clear to him.
“It’s different strokes for different folks. Joey needed to have a voice and an opinion, as long as it aligned to what we needed from him. He bought into that almost immediately.
“He’s deeply knowledgeable about football and I had a three-hour conversation with him in the kitchen of my house in Northampton.
“There I laid down what I could give him and help him and he laid down what he could give back.
“We both kept to the bargain and that’s why it worked.
“Joey made his decision to go to Rangers, so there are no regrets for me. He did very well for our group and was a big part of what we stood for last season.
“He just wanted a new challenge and he’s certainly got that.”