Burnley manager Sean Dyche has revealed that Joey Barton left the Clarets this summer to join Rangers to experience the feeling of playing for a club of the Gers' size.

The 33-year-old midfielder was instrumental in Burnley winning the English Championship last season, and earning automatic promotion to the Premier League.




He was also named in the Championship Team of the Year, and despite an offer to continue at Turf Moor, Barton moved to Scotland to join Rangers on a two-year contract.

Dyche, whose team take on Rangers in a friendly this weekend, has no malice towards Barton leaving Burnley and admits that he was delighted for the player to get such an opportunity.
 


The Burnley boss believes Barton wanted to play for an institution like Rangers and is confident that the veteran midfielder will bring his A-game to the fore at Ibrox next season.  

relatedNewsStory

“To be honest, I was delighted for Joey before I thought about anything else”, Dyche told the Herald Scotland.

“He was excellent for us and we had a good relationship, a very open relationship. We worked fantastically well. It was his decision so there was absolutely no baggage to that whatsoever.

“He did a brilliant job for us, I hope he does a brilliant job for Rangers and I think he will. I wish him well and wish Rangers all the best.

“It was a career choice, he wanted to go up there and experience what it is and be a part of a club the size of Rangers.”

The veteran midfielder has already entered the good books of Rangers fans by having a go at Celtic captain Scott Brown’s ability, and is expected to add some tenacity to Mark Warburton’s team next season.