Joey Barton says QPR return 'will be difficult' if they are relegated

Joey Barton says it will be difficult to return to Queens Park Rangers if they are relegated and has opened talks about extending his stay at Marseille.

Barton, on loan in France, told Football Focus QPR are full of "good individuals but not a good team".

But he hopes Harry Redknapp can inspire a revival at Loftus Road.

"For me to be part of the side that stayed up and not be part of the side that went down, it would be difficult for me to go back," said Barton.

Barton, who has two years left on his QPR contract, moved to Marseille on a season-long loan at the end of August after being banned for 12 matches by the Football Association.

The 30-year-old was found guilty of two counts of violent conduct after being sent-off in QPR's final game of last season at Manchester City.

"It didn't end in great circumstances in West London for me," added Barton, when asked whether he would return to QPR after Redknapp took charge following the dismissal of Mark Hughes.

"I know there has been a change in terms of the management structure, but something like that, and what goes on around that, lives with you beyond a managerial change.

"I haven't closed my mind to it although I would really like to stay here.

"I'm in a good space mentally. I've held preliminary talks with Marseille about extending my stay here.

"They have asked me whether I would stay beyond the loan period. The likelihood is, unless there is a massive turnaround in fortunes, QPR will be in the Championship next season.

"What it seems to me as a neutral - and I am in France, no matter that I am contracted - is that they have got a big case of a lot of good individuals, a lot of good quality individuals, but not a good team."

QPR are bottom of the Premier League table, eight points adrift of safety, without a win this season.

But Barton believes Redknapp has the experience and the skills to inspire a change in fortunes at Loftus Road.

"Harry Redknapp's record speaks for itself," he said.

"This time last year he was being talked about as the only successor to Fabio Capello. He has always done well with players and always got players on board. He is a really good man-manager.

"If anyone can pull the players together, a manager of Redknapp's calibre is capable of that. They are in with a good chance now with Harry there."

Football Focus: BBC1, 12:15, Saturday, 1 December