KENNY MILLER insists he didn’t have to give Joey Barton a Rangers sales pitch to convince him to make the move to Ibrox this summer.

The Gers striker played golf with Barton at Loch Lomond during his trip to Glasgow last month as he held talks over a switch north of the border from Burnley.

READ MORE: Kenny Miller: Mark Warburton would be the signing of the summer if he pens a new Rangers deal

The Englishman would put pen-to-paper on a contract just days later as he became the biggest signing of the summer for boss Mark Warburton.

But Miller has played down his part in helping get the deal over the line as Barton spurned a shot at the Premier League to lead Rangers’ Premiership title charge.

He said: “No to be honest I don’t think I needed to [convince him]. He seemed keen, was asking a lot of questions.

“Not only about the football side but about the club in general. The backroom staff, everything about the place.

READ MORE: Kenny Miller: Mark Warburton would be the signing of the summer if he pens a new Rangers deal

“It’s the first time I’d met him. From the outside looking in he seems that character that looks at more than just face value.

“He looks deeper, what goes on at a club, how it’s run. Which, again, for a club like this, does speak for itself.

“He seemed really keen on all the small details but for me coming away that day I was quite confident that it would get over the line. I’m absolutely delighted it did.

“You can have ideas about people but you don’t know them till you actually meet them.

READ MORE: Kenny Miller: Mark Warburton would be the signing of the summer if he pens a new Rangers deal

“For me I’ll make my judgements on someone only when I meet them.

“To be honest I thought he was brand new. A signing of the magnitude of Joey at this stage.

“It (Rangers) didn’t need any selling. This club doesn’t need any selling.

“I just tried to let him know what we were about as a team. I’m sure the manager would have done that as well.

“The manager has done a fantastic job of recruiting this summer, with the calibre of players and the actual names too.

“It says a lot about the manager and the vision he’s got for this club. I told him about the way we play, the ethos the manager’s got.”

The capture of Barton was a significant coup for boss Warburton as he bolster his Rangers ranks for a top flight campaign and looks to build on a successful first season at Ibrox.

Former Premier League stars Clint Hill, Niko Kranjcar and Matt Gilks are on board, while Matt Crooks, Josh Windass and Jordan Rossiter have also signed up.

And Miller reckons Barton will prove to be a crucial addition on and off the park for the Light Blues next term.

He said: “Outwith the fantastic footballer that he is, that goes without saying, he is similar to Clint in terms of the level he has played at throughout his career.

“It has been Premier League, he was a Championship winner last year, it has been in France with Marseille, a huge football club, and he talked about the passion of the fans there and some of the situations that went on with those fans were incredible.

“He was trying to match it up to Old Firm atmospheres and how frantic games can be and how passionate the fans are. He has played at a high level.

“Outwith that, there is the leadership and the experience he is going to bring. He is a big voice and a character in the dressing room, which is what you need.

“He is a winner. The more of those kind of characters you get in a dressing room and a team the more chance you have got of succeeding. I think the manager has made a very good job of making good additions.”

Boss Warburton will hope that Barton can make the difference on the park for Rangers next term, but the 33-year-old has already made a significant impact in our game.

The outspoken Englishman has aimed jibes at Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers and midfielder Scott Brown as he has hit the headlines once again.

The anticipated battle with Brown has been at the heart of much of the discussion and Miller reckons there will be plenty to talk about during an eagerly anticipated campaign.

He said: “I am a bit bored of it (Barton v Brown), it is getting a bit old already! It is all tongue and cheek. It is only good for the Scottish game.

“There has been a lot said about Celtic appointing Brendan, Joey coming, Niko signing, they are huge signings for the Scottish game and that can only be good.

“With us being back in the league, and everything that has come out since the fixtures have been released, you can see that the whole league and game has missed us being in the top flight.

“It brings an excitement and attention to our game that has not been there for the last three or four years. It is only going to be good for our game.

“In terms of Joey and Scott, it is all tongue and cheek and come September 10 when that game comes along it will be an interesting battle.”