Saturday 9 May 2015 11:11, UK
QPR manager Chris Ramsey has talked up Joey Barton, saying he has been impressed by the experienced midfielder despite him having a "questionable" reputation.
Ramsey even went as far as saying that Barton has what it takes to become "a good coach and manager", when his playing career ends.
Barton’s Rangers career appeared to be over when he spent the 2012/13 season on loan at French club Marseille following a 12-game ban by the Football Association after the Merseyside-born player was found guilty of two counts of violent conduct.
However, he is now back in a QPR shirt and Ramsey, who became boss at Loftus Road in early February, said of the 32-year-old: "Since I have met him, I have only ever had interesting debates with him and talks.
"He had a reputation that was questionable but you have to take people as you meet them.
He has not displayed anything to me that would warrant me believing the stories that I heard.
"I don't think you can come into a situation and take people based on what people think.
"He has not displayed anything to me that would warrant me believing the stories that I heard.
"He has conducted himself in a very professional manner, from training and to around the place.
"He has his opinion. He has taken instruction on board and has not gone against anything I have asked him to do - whether he believed it or not.
"I have been quite impressed with him and in the future, he will probably be a good coach and manager."
As for the future of a club which looks doomed for relegation and heading for the Championship next season, Ramsey added: "I think the owners will be looking at some sort of plan. How long? That will remain to be seen, depending on where we are and what we're doing.
"At the moment, it's intense times because we want to stay up and win the game on Sunday and next week, and the game against Leicester.
"But the club has learned there is a necessity to make a long-term plan and I would be well suited to that.
"I think it would be good for anyone who came in to build a club like Queens Park Rangers, with a long history, good catchment area, the ability to attract the right players.
"Even if we do stay up, there needs to be a long-term strategy."
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