On the day when Kevin Nolan looks set to leave Newcastle for a berth with West Ham, Joey Barton has no intention of following his team-mate out of St James' Park. The Magpies midfielder has already publicly declared his disappointment at the Nolan move but he will not be angling for a transfer away.
"I love the football club, without a shadow of a doubt, and I think everyone knows that," he told Sky Sports News HD.
"I have a great working relationship with the manager and a lot of the other players, obviously the other senior players who have been through the ups and downs - the likes of myself, Kevin Nolan, Stevie Harper, Smudger (Alan Smith ).
"It's a difficult situation and I totally understand the club's point of view, but on the flip side it's hard for me to get drawn into it.
"I am an employee of the football club and I have to go back and do a job in the summer. As far as I know I will go back to Newcastle United and play until my contract runs out and they tell me I am no longer needed.
"I have got no ambitions to leave the football club, I don't want to leave the football club, and I would love nothing more than to win a trophy at Newcastle. Whether I get the opportunity to do that is out of my hands.
"I am an employee of the football club and if they choose to do something, I would be foolish not to listen to it. If I'm not wanted then I believe greatly in my ability and I would have to re-evaluate my options.
"That's the situation we are at the minute. If that's the situation in a month's time then I will report back for pre-season training, if it's not then it's not.
"It's all hypothetical at the minute and I'm just trying to keep myself in shape and get myself ready for a league campaign with Newcastle United next season."
