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JOEY BARTON stunned radio listeners today by insisting he has got nothing to apologise for as the row that rocked Rangers reached a new level.

The midfielder took to TalkSPORT this morning to defend himself after being banished from the club following a training-ground bust-up.

Barton was on Twitter on Thursday night and at first offered an apology. But he was less contrite in an interview with Jim White on TalkSPORT.

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The 34-year-old was involved in a shouting match with team-mate Andy Halliday before a showdown with manager Mark Warburton in training on Tuesday.

And when asked why Halliday hasn’t also been told to stay away from Rangers, Barton said: “Because Andy stopped on the training ground.

"The manager pulled me in afterwards and asked me to explain what I’d said and I’d told him in no certain terms where I believed it to be at.

(Image: Sammy Turner/SNS Group)

“So he’s saying I need to go away think things through. Whilst I didn’t agree with that, he’s the manager of the football club and I have to accept that.

"But I don’t believe I’ve done anything to apologise for.

“It’s the tone of language I’ve used (that was the problem).

“Maybe I don’t communicate like somebody who has been educated at Eton, but that’s not me, I’m from Liverpool I communicate how I communicate and I want to win football matches.

“It can be bristling at times and for that I take responsibility. Maybe I could communicate better and I accept that, but the message doesn’t change.

“It’s not the wrong message I’m communicating, and it’s unfair for anybody to say that is the case.”

Barton revealed he has been told to have a look at his behaviour but the former Manchester City star is unrepentant as he insisted he will never change.

He added: “They’ve told me to stay away but there are a lot of misconceptions out there at the moment.

“I’ve been asked to reevaluate the way I’m thinking, but I don’t think that’s going to change - I want Rangers to win!

“We lost to our fiercest rivals at the weekend and we’ve been picking the bones of how we get better, how we get Rangers back to the top of Scottish football.

“We’re asked for an opinion and I’m someone who gives an opinion. Two passionate Rangers players have then shared opinions on how we get better and what’s going wrong - it’s nothing more and nothing less than that.

“Obviously sometimes the way I communicate can be a bit blunt, a bit direct, and it ruffles people’s feathers, which I know I have to work at, but I don’t apologise for trying to win."

(Image: SNS)

Barton took a thinly-veiled dig at the club and the way the flashpoint has been handled.

He said: “There is absolutely no issue with me and Andy. There was no anger. We sat down in the dressing room afterwards and spoke through what was said. It’s disappointing that certain people are trying to insinuate that there is, because it’s completely false.

“Andy is a mad, passionate Rangers fan, he’s stood in the terraces, so I’ve got great respect for him. He cares deeply about making the club better, as I do.

“But the way it’s been handled is strange.

“When you look at my history and you’re told to stay away from the club, it does look like something more has happened, and that’s why I’ve decided to get on the radio and speak.”