Barton waiting before committing future

07 April 2011 10:30
Midfielder Joey Barton has warned his future at Newcastle will depend on the club matching his ambition. The 28-year-old was understood to be ready to put pen to paper on a new deal in January when Tyneside was stunned as striker Andy Carroll was sold to Liverpool for £35million. Both Barton and the club have repeatedly spoken of their hopes of striking a deal since, although they are currently at odds over the length of the proposed contract. In an interview with French magazine So Foot, Barton said: "It's important to respect the people who come to the stadium or watch the games on telly. That's what I told [the Newcastle management]. I told them the goal shouldn't be just to survive, to finish 16th or 17th, every season. "We had a good player, Carroll, and we sold him. I told the management that I was worried, that I was scared this might happen every year. But they assured me they don't want to go down that road. "I don't know if I believe them. I told them I might stay this summer because we have some good players and money to spend. But I'm going to wait and see if players like Kevin Nolan, Cheick Tiote and Jose Enrique stay. If Nolan signs a new deal, I will as well. But I hope the club step things up. I want to be ambitious and I think the club share that desire."

Source: PA