QPR captain Joey Barton says his departure from Newcastle United was due to a pay dispute.
The controversial midfielder left the Magpies for Loftus Road in the summer and has revealed that the move came about after he and some teammates refused to sign a bonus proposal set up by the club's board.
"Newcastle, as a playing squad, were the only club in Premier League history not to sign a bonus sheet. It was unprecedented," he told Open All R's.
"We refused as a playing staff (to sign) as they tried to railroad the players into signing a bonus sheet.
"Myself and the bigger name players at the time advised the playing staff because we were head of the playing committee not to sign the bonus sheet and that filtered back to boardroom level.
"It's no coincidence that I was given away.
"They promised a number of different things and delivered on very few of them.
"At Newcastle I couldn't take to the pitch and lie to the fans and be a part of it. You are doing it for yourself, the fans and the football club but if you fundamentally despise everything that the owners stand for it is very difficult.
"I am a man of principles, I am a very principled individual and for me taking money off fans and taking the p*** out of them is not what I am about.
"I would rather walk away with my dignity and self-respect intact and I feel I have done that."
