Joey Barton criticises QPR players & Mark Hughes after relegation

Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton has criticised some of the club's players and former manager Mark Hughes following their relegation.

QPR dropped out of the Premier League along with Reading after Sunday's goalless draw at the Madejski Stadium.

Barton, who is on loan at Marseille, tweeted: "I can't believe QPR have just been relegated and [Jose] Bosingwa was walking down the tunnel laughing!"

He said he is "gutted for the club" and questioned some of Hughes's signings.

The 30-year-old added he hoped there would be an overhaul in playing staff to avoid ending up "in a Wolves situation", saying that the Championship was a difficult league.

Wolverhampton Wanderers were relegated from the Premier League last season and could drop into League One just 12 months later.

"It's the club and supporters I feel for," said Barton. "They don't get the chance to move club or switch alliances, they are left to pick up the bits.

"Lot of those within that dressing room have to have a good long look in the mirror. Spoke to a few of the better lads over the course of the season and it seems things just became ridiculous in the end.

"It seems an awful lot must change if they are to have any chance of turning it around next year. The club needs to change from top to bottom. I wish them every success in doing that.

"Believe it or not I am actually gutted for QPR - I reckon more than some of the current playing squad.

"If the media want to slag me off for saying players shouldn't laugh after they've been relegated, so be it. If I worked all week and paid to watch my team and I'd seen that. I'd be fuming.

"I don't care what level you play at. That's wrong."

QPR manager Harry Redknapp has previously admitted he doubted whether he could convince Barton to return to the club when his loan spell at Marseille finishes at the end of the season.

And the player himself said that if QPR were relegated it would make his return unlikely.

Hughes's predecessor, Neil Warnock, signed Barton on a four-year deal in August 2011 on a free transfer.