Monday 4 June 2018 13:01, UK
New Fleetwood boss Joey Barton says his playing days are over because he wants to concentrate on management.
The 35-year-old is back in football after he was suspended for illegal betting in 2017 and he faced the media on Monday for the first time since it was announced in April that he would be succeeding John Sheridan.
Barton has played for Manchester City, Newcastle, QPR and Burnley in the Premier League but is not expecting to line up for his new club in League One.
"If I am serious about being the best possible version of myself in a coaching space, I think I have to put Joey Barton the player to bed," he said.
"So the take-out for you is probably 'the death of Joey Barton' as a player - some people will argue that is a very good thing!
"That obviously opens up Joey Barton the coach, so you close one chapter ...
"I love playing, it is something I dreamt about doing from as long as I was consciously aware.
"I was fortunate enough to achieve everything I dreamt of doing - playing for England and playing in the Premier League for some phenomenal football clubs.
"I probably would have liked to have gone out under my own steam as opposed to getting an FA ban to put the final nail in the coffin - but the world works in mysterious ways."
Barton accepts that Fleetwood have taken something of a risk by hiring him and is determined to prove them right.
"Some people will have questioned this appointment because I am somebody who is coming out of a 13-month ban from the FA," he said.
"The club and Andy (Pilley) the owner have given me this opportunity and I intend to pay that back a hundred fold over the next three years.
"I suppose we can contact some bookmakers to give us a price for me coming out of a betting ban and into a managerial position!
"It's one of the weird idiosyncrasies on the roller-coaster journey that's certainly my life and professional life.
"It's something I've always wanted to do and I'm thankful for the opportunity.
"It's a fantastic football club, obviously on an upward trajectory, and a great place for me to start a coaching journey."
