Joey Barton says he won't re-sign with Newcastle United until he's sure they can match his ambition.
Barton admitted he had been unsettled by Carroll's departure in January and wants Newcastle to prove they can match his own ambition before he extends his contract, which has a year to run.
"It's important to respect the people who come to the stadium or watch the games on telly," he told So Foot. "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."
Barton, however, was not entirely convinced by the talks and is urging Newcastle to act by tying their leading players to new deals.
"I don't know if I believe them," he said. "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 Tioté 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."
