JOEY Barton’s decision to swap Burnley for Rangers next season was fuelled by a desire to win trophies rather than battle relegation.

The 33-year-old has spurned the chance to remain at Turf Moor and spearhead the Clarets’ Premier League return, instead signing a two-year deal with the Glasgow giants.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The Ibrox side are back in the Scottish Premiership next season and the possibility of helping them lift the title proved too big an opportunity for the midfielder to reject.

Barton enjoyed a successful season with Sean Dyche’s side winning the Championship title, but has opted against a shot at Premier League survival, having already been relegated from the top-flight on three occasions.

“I had great options on the table and had a phenomenal year at Burnley with a group of people who are close to me and will remain that way, I made some great friends and had success - but what they are about to do, I’ve done before,” he said of the Clarets’ return to the top flight.

“I’ve played in the Premier League for a number of years, the last few times I’ve been in there I’ve been battling against relegation and in the cold light of day the competitive animal in me wants to win trophies.

“I had a taste of that last year with a 23 match unbeaten run and winning the Championship.

“It would have been easy for me to stay there (at Burnley). I had a great rapport with the fans and a phenomenal working relationship with the staff and the players.

“But I’m very keen to keep challenging my own perception of what the game is and experience as much of this great game as I possibly can.

“To go into the Premier League and do what I’ve done before, I was aware it was a tough challenge, but once I walked into Ibrox and had the tour with Dave Weir and everything that comes with the history and tradition of this club, I was just bitten.”

Barton initially expressed a desire to remain at Turf Moor towards the end of Burnley’s successful campaign, but he wanted more than the one-year deal that was on the table from the Clarets.

That gave Rangers the opportunity to make their move and Barton revealed the Light Blues head of recruitment Frank McParland played a crucial role in the move.

McParland was Burnley’s sporting director when he joined the Clarets last August, but the former Liverpool academy director left that role in October to be reunited with Rangers boss Warburton, having worked alongside him at Brentford.

“The prime thing when you come to any football club is the people you are going to be working with on a daily basis,” said Barton.

“I obviously saw the job they did at Brentford before they came to Rangers, likewise Frank McParland who is someone who I have known for a long time.

“We remained in contact and when I first found out there was potentially the opportunity to come here, from that moment on, my blood got pumping and I kept thinking what it could be like for me – and also what it already is.

“I am fully aware of the situation the club has been in during the last few years, but to be part of a group that is going to put this football club back where it belongs was an opportunity that if I didn’t take it, I would regret for the rest of my life.”