This one is about Joey Barton’s rant last night on a QPR podcast, which came to light overnight and which you can read or listen to here.
In short Barton made a series of disparaging remarks against the Mike Ashley, Derek Llambias and, in a roundabout way, the normal working person who happens to work for Sports Direct as a job, labelling them “subordinates” which was odd considering they’ve nothing to do with Barton’s very public feud with Ashley and Llambias.
At first the club declined to comment on Barton’s remarks, which is probably a good thing given their habit of ballsing things up like this. However that has changed now and Derek Llambias has finally responded. Below, in full, is what Llambias has said, transcribed from Sky Sports News courtesy of the rewind button on my Sky + remote.
“In a week when one of Newcastle United’s most beloved footballers passed away it is disappointing that once again Joey Barton makes the headlines.”
“It is also unfortunate that Joey chose to draw such a disparaging comparison between himself and the employees of Sports Direct who through hard work and dedication are the recipients of one of the most generous bonus schemes in UK retailing.”
“It may not be a lot of money to Joey, but over 2,000 Sports Direct employees earning £20,000 will receive shares worth over 44,00 over the next two years.”
“However in this week, of all weeks, we really do not wish to engage in a public war of wards with Joey Barton. Our legal advisers are dealing with the matter now and we would encourage Joey to concentrate on his football at Queens Park Rangers.”
“Our thoughts and attentions this week remain firmly with the family and friends of Gary Speed.”
Now I’m not keen on Derek Llambias. I personally think a lot of the issues and ill feeling around the club stem from him, but that’s just my opinion. However, I have to say that this is a well reasoned and well thought out response from the club. Fair play to them on that score.
I can only assume it was written for Del by someone!
Naturally there will be people saying that Derek is using Gary Speed’s passing as a weapon against Barton, but I don’t see it that way. He is just responding to criticism and is allowed to do that isn’t he? I mean a lot of our fans have that commented on the earlier article (linked above, 2nd paragraph) said much the same thing about Barton attention seeking so perhaps Llambias isn’t far wide of the mark?
For once, I actually agree with Derek Llambias! I need to lay down…
Aye I see Lambias using Speed as a diversion so he can still go and fucking do one for all I care. Barton’s being a ***** but responding to him like this is only going to feed the fires.
Newkie(Quote)
I was wondering..
Is this Steve Bruce first ever sacking… 😈 😆
Cause iirc he keeps resigning and change to other clubs. 🙄
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
A bit of a larf – Barton claiming someone else has no class.
Archie Brand(Quote)
Shamrock 😆
AOD – I think you might be right actually. It might actually be his first sacking 😯
Archie – Indeed. Nice to see Barton resorting to cheap personal insults. Principled man that he is.
And as for this
Toby le Rhone
November 30, 2011 at 22:03
“Far too much over the top name calling on this topic. If you don’t agree with what someone says then just say so. No need for for calling people cnuts, ******** etc”
Just looked back and read every reply and found no evidence of this whatsoever.
toonsy(Quote)
“Listened to the podcast and Barton strikes me as a bit of a halfwit trying to use clever words.
…..and the clever word for this week is “Facet”
Haha, I hadn’t noticed that one Archie, although I did notice that he used the word “affiliation” quite a lot, as in his “affiliation with the crowd”. Unfortunately he was using the wrong word. The word he should have been using was “affinity”. 😳
Chris G(Quote)
GeordieDan ….don’t worry about it mate ! Nobody talks to me either, but sometimes that’s the best way, it means you can make your point without some smartarse coming back to tell you what a d*ckhead you are for not knowing some obscure statistic from 50 years ago!
JoeSoap(Quote)
My word. Llambias taking the moral high ground. The same bloke who said (after a few drinks) “You guys don’t realise how ****ing horrible we can be” and streaked across the SJP pitch after losing a bet.
I know who I’d rather share a telephone kiosk with between him and Barton.
I think some toon fans would not look out of place in Stalin’s Cheka. On the one hand, they criticised him when he was at the club for disrupting the team. On the other, they say he should shut up now because he is no longer playing for the club. Any dirt showing? Sweep it under the carpet lads! You’d make ideal replacements for Llambias.
Frank_Pingel(Quote)
Frank – I dont see where the dirt is judging by your last comment? Disrupt the team when here, then draw nwgative attention to the club when he is gone. Both worthy of criticism. If he has a leagl problem he should sort it through a good lawyer. He has the money after all, despite his lack of pay in prison (you know, the money he is supposed to earn on a football pitch?). He should not be airing it all in Public. The QPR fans must love listening to one of their ‘top’ players talking about another club more than their own. He is a thug, thinks he is far more intelligent than he is and is clearly jealous at Newcastle’s position following the comments he made about the wheels falling off on his way out of the door.
You do have a good point about Llambias taking the moral highground though. 😯 😉
Shamrock(Quote)
i cant see why people are saying its Barton seeking attention he was on a show he’s bound to get asked questions and he’s bound to get alot of questions about Newcastle as its such a juicy subject as everyone knows he left on bad terms. its not like he’s gone into the interview and gone right your only allowed to ask me questions about Newcastle its the press that keep bringing it up.
and I do feel it has nothing to do with Speed so why bring speed into it? Yes its a shame about Speed but its nothing to do with him Joey wasnt talking about speed or slagging him off. so it does stink a bit but oh well Bartons gone so who cares just ignore it why is any fuse needed about? its just another interview.
And i do feel Bartons comparisions to sports direct are correct even keegan said llambais and ashley dont have a clue about football and obviously treat the club the same as sports direct as a business not a football club
john(Quote)