Tony Fernandes: 'Joey Barton may stay at Queens Park Rangers'

Queens Park Rangers owner Tony Fernandes has warned Joey Barton that he may have to play for the club in the Championship next season.

The midfielder has spent the majority of the campaign on loan with Marseille and he recently admitted that he would like to join the French club on a permanent basis.

However, Fernandes has insisted that if Marseille do not match QPR's valuation of the 30-year-old, then he will stay at Loftus Road.

"Marseille have to put an offer in. Joey is under contract," he told the club's official website. "There has to be a financial deal that needs to be worked out.

"He would be a valuable player for QPR and helped Newcastle out [in the Championship]. Some people say we lacked his spirit in midfield."

Barton joined QPR on a free transfer from Newcastle United in 2011.