Furious Mark Warburton stormed out of his media conference after being asked about Joey Barton following Sevco’s 0-0 draw with Ross County at Ibrox.
Life in the top flight is proving too stressful for the former city trader as he attempts to live up to his pre-season pledge to take the title from Celtic.
After a favourable run of fixtures the newly promoted club are three points behind the five times champions who have got two games in hand over the Ibrox tribute act.
News of Barton’s training ground bust up with Warbo was leaked out on Thursday shortly after the former Brentford supremo had conducted his pre-match media conference.
Created enough chances to win 5 games today . 0-0 still not good enough at home but we were unlucky not to score 6 never mind 0 . Cya tues??
— Joshua Windass (@WindassJnr) September 17, 2016
After issuing a contrived statement, apparently apologising, Barton, who spend 67 days as an inmate of Strangeways Prison in 2008 has gone on national radio to explain the situation and undermine the authority of his manager.
True Blue Jason Holt replaced Barton in midfield today but after a stalemate with the highland side Warbo stormed out of the blue press room after being asked about his £30,000-a-week marquee signing.
As speculation mounted about Barton going to Ibrox, last season Warbo said: “The only baggage I’m looking at is that he is in the Championship Team of the Year and the team that just won that division. That’s the only baggage I’m looking at.
“He’s an outstanding player who’s had an outstanding season. He is experienced, combative and very intellectual about football. When you speak to him, he is a very knowledgeable guy.
“Everyone has history. Everyone. How many years do you go back?
“The fact is that in the most recent season he was outstanding. And quite rightly named in that team of the year.
“That was our focus. We have looked at his fitness, looked at his impact on games and how that might benefit us. And also how we might benefit him.
“He is a very talented player, isn’t he? Forget some of the baggage you refer to, he is a very talented player. No doubt about that. A top Premier League player.”
Barton is due to return to state-of-the-art Murray Park for training on Monday.
Sevco’s next SPFL match is at Aberdeen next Saturday, by kick off time Warbo’s side could be in the bottom half of the table and trailing Celtic by NINE points.