Joey Barton has been defended by former Premier League boss Ian Holloway, who says he ‘likes who he is’.
The former footballer has been widely condemned for his comments about female players, pundits and presenters.
Barton doesn’t like women being involved in the men’s side of the game, with fans rallying against the 41-year-old as a result.
The former Newcastle, Manchester City and QPR midfielder is refusing to back down, however, and continues to stand by his comments on social media.
Joey Barton has been heavily criticised for his comments on female players, pundits and presenters
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Holloway previously managed Blackpool in the Premier League, with the Tangerines relegated back in 2011.
And the charismatic manager has now defended Barton, though did admit he should be careful about what he says.
Barton was sacked by Bristol Rovers in October having done a steady, if unspectacular, job in charge.
Holloway, speaking to OLBG, said: “If you want someone that is going to work hard for you and make a young lad believe in themselves, why can’t that be Joey Barton?
“But he’s also got to think about what he says and where he says it. What he says may have an impact.
“You shouldn’t call other managers names like he did with Steve Evans, but I would say that to his face.
“I thought he did a great job at Bristol Rovers. I’ve met him and I like him. I like who he is.
“We can all change a little bit to better ourselves a little bit, and he might have to do so.
“Joey and Wael (al-Qadi) got on really well. Joey and the new people didn’t get on.
“I don’t understand why and I wasn’t allowed to come in.
“But, at the end of the day, somebody should give him a chance and meet him.
“We all draw conclusions about people from what we hear in the media.”
Holloway then shed light on how close he came to working with Barton at Bristol Rovers, adding: “To be honest, I nearly went in to work with Joey Barton (in an upstairs role).
“When they sacked him for whatever reason, I wasn’t happy.
“At the end of the day, I’m a Rovers fan and I thought the way he was doing things and the squad he was building was right. I thought he and his staff got the club.
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Joey Barton has been defended by former Premier League boss Ian Holloway
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“Unfortunately, the club changed. The owner (Wael al-Qadi) sold a big percentage of it and they (the new ownership) saw things differently.
“I wanted to work with Joey and the job I was in discussions with Rovers over would have suited me down to the ground.
“It never happened and the new people came in. If they didn’t, I would have probably been in a job and I think Joey would still have been. It’s all about relationships.
“I would have preferred the other role I was going to get (instead of management).
“I would have let Joey carry on being the manager and I would have overseen things and helped the club get to where I always wanted it to be in the first place.
Joey Barton is currently without a job after being sacked by Bristol Rovers in October
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“I don’t want to talk about job titles because nothing happened.
“They wanted to speak to me for two-and-a-half years and absolutely nothing has happened! That’s life. Crazy.”
As for his own future, Holloway says he’s eager to return to football.
“It (any potential job) will have to be at a certain level and the club would have to make contact with me,” he added.
“I want to be wanted.
“I know what I can do, I’m probably better than I have ever been after having a taste of League Two at Grimsby.”
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