Joey Barton goes on self-confessed 'rant' about Mark Hughes, claiming manager was to blame for QPR relegation

The midfielder claims the now Stoke City manager is trying to shift the blame

Joey Barton questioned the point of FA's commission and said the England team are 'shit' (Getty Images)

Joey Barton has launched a stinging attack on former QPR manager Mark Hughes, claiming the Welshman left the club in a “hell of a worse situation” than the one he inherited.

Hughes took charge after the sacking of Neil Warnock in January 2012 but was shown the exit at Loftus Road in November of the same year, having failed to win any of their first 12 league matches of 2012/13 season.

QPR went onto finish bottom of the Barclays Premier League and it now looks like the play-offs are the only way they will exit the Sky Bet Championship at the first attempt.

Hughes, meanwhile, is rebuilding his reputation at Stoke and recently urged people not to judge him on his time at the R's.

Those comments clearly irked QPR midfielder Barton, who on Tuesday posted a link to the interview via Twitter with the comment "April Fools".

"People thinking I hold a grudge against Hughes. I don't," he posted via his account, Joey7Barton. "He was the one who let me go to Marseille after all.

"What I don't like is people shifting the blame. How dare he say what he has said in that interview. The club/board backed him to the hilt.

"Gave him everything he ever asked for. Fans backed him to the hilt.

"Who took the club down. Why? Lack of professional pride and discipline. IMO. He will claim he kept us up the year. He never. Warnocks team.

Mark Hughes during his time as manager of QPR (Getty Images)

Barton continued: "I reiterate, players he signed took the club down. Why I am ranting at this interview? Because he is trying to get away from the truth.

"We are all now here trying to clean up his mess. The players/staff/board and fans. He inherits Tony Pulis team, a good solid team and now he thinks he's the bees knees. Nah mate, you're not shifting blame. Not on my watch.

"Accept you failed. Accept your to blame. Be humble and apologise to a club you left in a hell of a worse situation than when you came."

PA