Wednesday 24 May 2017 21:29, UK
Joey Barton admits it will be difficult for him to make a comeback after his 18-month ban for betting infringements but insists he hasn't given up hope of a return to English football.
Former Burnley midfielder Barton was handed the suspension after admitting Football Association charges that accused him of having placed 1,260 bets on matches between 2006 and 2013, including 42 bets on 20 matches involving teams he was registered with.
Barton was released by the Clarets at the end of the season but insists he is not yet ready to retire and has already submitted an appeal against the length of his ban.
However, the former Manchester City, QPR and Rangers midfielder admits a comeback is unlikely should that appeal be rejected.
"You can work in six-month windows, you can potentially work in 12-month windows but if it's 18 months - that's the better part of 60, 70 football matches," said Barton at the 15th annual Cross Sports Book Awards ceremony in London.
"It makes it really difficult and certainly at the age that I'm at, it makes it incredibly difficult. It makes it an even better story should you have the audacity to pull it off."
Barton returned to Burnley during the January transfer window after a tumultuous short-lived spell with Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.
The 34-year-old went on to help the Clarets avoid relegation from the Premier League and still has hopes of continuing his career with another club in the top-flight.
When asked if he had played his final ever match, Barton replied: "I don't think I have. I may well have but personally I don't think that is the case.
"I've always said that I don't think football will define me. Well I'm going to find out over the next 18 months whether that is the case and whether my character stands the test of that.
"I'm really optimistic about the future, there is more to life than being a footballer and I'm really looking forward to finding out about that."
