Phillip Beard confirms Joey Barton exit

Queens Park Rangers chief executive Phillip Beard has revealed that Joey Barton will be allowed to leave the club next summer.

The 29-year-old, who joined the club from Newcastle United in 2011, was sent on loan to Marseille this summer following a host of unsavoury incidents at the club.

Barton had been expected to resume his playing career with the R's when his stay at Marseille ends in the summer, but Beard has insisted that the midfielder has no future at Loftus Road.

"When you're in any situation, particularly in football, you want the right mood and spirit in the squad. I think that's what Mark Hughes wants," he told reporters.

"We bought Joey when Neil Warnock was manager and we needed to bring players in. But the club has moved on. Joey is a good player and will do a job for the right team."

Barton is still in the process of serving a 12-match ban.