Former Rangers midfielder Barry Ferguson feels that Joey Barton's career is all but over after the Gers suspended him for three weeks.
Barton was involved in a training ground bust-up with team-mate Andy Halliday last week and was told to stay away from the club until Monday, at which time he returned to hold a meeting with manager Mark Warburton.
There has been no suggestion there was anything physical about the bust-up, with merely harsh words being exchanged – but they have been enough to see Barton handed a three-week suspension by the Ibrox club.
And as such, Ferguson says he cannot see any way back for the former Burnley midfielder, feeling his Rangers career is now over.
"In terms of him being suspended for three weeks, I'm surprised at that", Ferguson explained to BBC Scotland.
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"I don't know what's going to happen after it.
"It looks to me that maybe his Rangers career is over now."
And Ferguson, who has played against Barton and also met him while studying for his coaching license, is disappointed that the midfielder appears to be heading out of Ibrox before truly showing what he can do on the pitch.
"It looks like his Rangers career is over before it's even started because he's only been up there a couple of months.
"I was looking forward to seeing how he was going to do", the Clyde boss added.
Barton had been confident he would quickly dominate in Scotland after joining Rangers following the expiry of his contract with Burnley at the end of last season.
If Barton agrees to terminate his contract and leave Rangers, he will not be able to sign for another club while the transfer window is closed.
