Joey Barton and Rangers officially part company after completing pay-off talks
Controversial midfielder set to be offered a lifeline back in the Championship with Burnley, Derby County or QPR
JOEY BARTON has officially left Rangers.
The controversial midfielder's contract was terminated on Thursday afternoon.
He is open to a return to England’s Championship, where he helped Burnley win promotion to the Premier League last season.
Former clubs Burnley and QPR, along with Derby County, are thought to be happy to offer the former Manchester City, Newcastle and Marseille player a lifeline.
Barton was forecast to be huge hit in Scotland when Mark Warburton made him his marquee summer signing.
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However, it has turned into a hugely expensive eight-game disaster for Gers who ended up agreeing a severance package with him.
Warburton and Barton couldn’t bury the hatchet after a training ground bust-up in the wake of a 5-1 Parkhead pummelling in September.
Barton made only eight appearances for the club before he was banned for six weeks following the altercation.
This week he was signed off with stress.
He is also being investigated by the Scottish Football Association over alleged breaches of gambling rules.
Barton described his move to Rangers as an opportunity "that if I didn't take, I would probably have regretted it for the rest of my life".