Barton: Bonus row behind Toon exit

Joey Barton has claimed his departure from Newcastle United was due to a bonus dispute.

Barton joined QPR in August after being placed on the transfer list by Newcastle following a Twitter rant against the club's board. He has since spoken out against the regime of owner Mike Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias, and has now alleged he and other big-name players had been forced out after refusing to agree to a bonus proposal.

Barton told the QPR podcast Open All R's: "Newcastle, as a playing squad, were the only club in Premier League history not to sign a bonus sheet. It was unprecedented. We refused as a playing staff (to sign) as they tried to railroad the players into signing a bonus sheet."

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