Joey Barton: Stoke City "mental" to appoint Mark Hughes

Joey Barton has claimed that Stoke City chairman Peter Coates "must be mental" for choosing Mark Hughes as the club's new manager.

Hughes was confirmed as Tony Pulis's successor at the Britannia Stadium on Thursday morning, when he signed a three-year contract with the Staffordshire outfit.

Barton, who worked under Hughes at Queens Park Rangers during the second half of the 2011-12 season, does not believe that the Potters have made the correct appointment.

He tweeted: "Those Stoke directors must be mental..."

This is not the first time that Barton has used social media to express negative opinions on Hughes.

Earlier this month he claimed that Everton would be committing "suicide" if they selected the Welshman to replace new Manchester United boss David Moyes.