Joey Barton has issued an emphatic denial of any links with the vacant Preston North End job and once again reiterated his desire to stay with Bristol Rovers long-term and deliver on the promises he’s made.
Barton, from nowhere, leapt to the top of the betting for the manager’s job at Deepdale last Saturday in the wake of Rovers’ 1-0 defeat to Sunderland, and at one point the 38-year-old was odds-on for the role, which has been empty since Alex Neil left on March 21.
As it stands, Barton is second favourite among bookmakers, behind former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt, but insists he has no ideas to leave the Mem, even in light of Rovers’ descent down the League One table and into the relegation zone.
Since Barton took charge last month, the Gas have taken just seven points from a possible 30 and are second bottom in the division ahead of the Good Friday visit to Ipswich, which could – if results go against them – leave them bottom over the Easter Weekend.
Barton arrived in north Bristol, along with coaches Clint Hill and Andy Mangan, promising to restore pride in the team and delivering a long-term vision of driving Rovers up the table, something he remains confident of acheiving.
“It’s not April Fools' is it?” Barton said, when asked about the Preston job.
“I’ve reiterated since I’ve been at the club, what we came to Rovers for,” Barton said. “Walking around the city, I see fans interacting saying, ‘Go on the Gas, get the lads going’.
“For me as a football man, that’s important to have that support.
“The job that is in front of us has been tough, it hasn’t been easy, don’t get me wrong. But we always took on the project of what the football club could be within the city and nothing for me has changed.
“Look, I know Peter Ridsdale and Preston is a fantastic club but Bristol Rovers is everything I need at this moment on my coaching journey.”
Barton signed a two-and-a-half year contract last month and despite the negative results has managed to galvanise the majority of the fanbase behind him with a sense of hope, even if the Gas were to drop into League Two.
The former Newcastle United midfielder and his coaches have moved away from their families in the north west, only seeing them on days off – which is, at maximum, twice a week – with Barton a father of three.
“We’ve committed, we’ve moved away from our families and the support I’ve had, overwhelmingly, has been positive and all we want to do is deliver on the promises and the things we’ve spoken about in recent weeks,” the Rovers boss added.
“I would be a hypocrite if I was to walk about at this juncture. Firstly, I’m in the perfect place to learn, I’ve had nothing but support from everybody, and I’m loving (it), albeit tainted with the losses and the losing feeling at the minute – because that drives me crazy and makes me feel sick.
“But that will turn and we will be able to deliver on the promises that we’ve given to the Rovers faithful, to the Gasheads, and we’ll get this club and this city, certainly the blue quarters half of it, rocking and rolling and feeling positive about their football club.
“I won’t be leaving until I’ve exhausted any avenue to get this club winning.”
