QPR could consider making Joey Barton loan move to Marseille permanent deal

Joey Barton: QPR midfielder is on a season-long loan at Marseille

QPR chief executive Phil Beard has revealed the club may consider making Joey Barton's loan deal to Marseille permanent.

The controversial midfielder received a 12-match ban after being sent off in the final game of last season against Manchester City and was excluded from Mark Hughes' squad for the new season.

But despite Beard previously defending Barton's move to Loftus Road, he now admits things have changed and would not rule out a permanent move to the Ligue 1 club for the 30-year-old.

"Everything is possible," said Beard.

"Joey is ultimately still a QPR employee. A lot will depend on how his move works out and we'll look at it at the end of the season.

"We bought Joey when Neil [Warnock] was the manager and we needed to bring players in. We did it with the right intentions. But I think it is fair to say that the club has moved on significantly in the last 12 months.

"There is no question that Joey is a good footballer. If he can manage the other side of his life then he has two or three good years left to offer.

"Joey has a chance now. He had one or two options in the Championship which were not suitable for us or him. This agreement works for everbody."