Wolves: Why I wouldn't sign Joey Barton - Mick McCarthy

Sep 15 2011 by Bill Howell

MICK McCarthy says Wolves refused to consider smashing their wage structure to sign Joey Barton.

Barton moved to QPR on a free transfer from Newcastle on reported wages of £65,000 a week.

“When we got promoted we tried to sign Premier League players and I’ve always had the support of Steve (Morgan) and Jez (Moxey) but we are never going to sign players on £65,000 a week,” McCarthy said.

“We are not going to do it anyway because we don’t think that is the way to go about it. But we went and spent millions on two strikers one year after the next. Sometimes some clubs, or players just get lucky. Certain clubs are going for it and are prepared to pay people.

“It is ‘nowt’ to do with Neil Warnock. He just does the best he can for his club and for himself and hope that the ones on £15,000 a week don’t get too much of a hump!”

McCarthy denied that Barton’s transfer to Rangers was an ‘eye-catching’ transfer.

“I don’t think it was – he was always going to go somewhere.

“I think you’ll find it was because Tony Fernandes was prepared to give him £65,000-a-week.