IAN FERGUSON has urged Mark Warburton to bring a swift end to the Joey Barton saga and avoid the ‘pantomime’ around the midfielder dragging on at Ibrox.

Barton has not played for Rangers since the 5-1 defeat to Celtic last month and has been suspended for several weeks after a training ground incident.

The 34-year-old was involved in a bust-up with team-mate Andy Halliday before a confrontation with boss Warburton that lead to him being banned from Auchenhowie.

Read more: Ian Ferguson: It is crucial to have a Bluenose in the Rangers side for the Old Firm battleGlasgow Times: Talking a good game: Joey Barton has not been lost for words since arriving at Rangers (Picture: SNS)

A meeting to discuss his Ibrox future was cancelled on Thursday but Barton appears to have played his last game for the Light Blues.

And nine-in-a-row hero Ferguson believes swift action should have been taken to avoid the drama grabbing more headlines over the last few weeks.

He told SportTimes: “I am a bit embarrassed by it to be honest. Once again we are talking about off field things rather than on the field.

“I think Mark Warburton should have made a tough decision there and then.

Read more: Ian Ferguson: It is crucial to have a Bluenose in the Rangers side for the Old Firm battle

“I saw it when Graham Roberts had a discussion with Graeme Souness and within 30 seconds it was over and Graham never kicked a ball for Rangers again.

“Graeme Souness made that decision and it was a tough decision because at that time Graham Roberts was one of the fan favourites. But he made that decision, stuck by that decision and let everybody know who was boss.

“I think this should have been the same scenario and he should have made it clear. If it is the case that he was arguing in front of everybody with the manager then there is no way back for me.

“The manager is the one that runs the club. It is his philosophy, his style, his structure, the one that everything lands on top of when things don’t go right.

“If you have got a player that is having arguments and being disrespectful, you have to deal with it.

“Look, we all get hot headed and you say things in the heat of the moment but you have got to pick wisely what you say in front of people. If you say the wrong thing, you are gone.”

Barton agreed a two-year deal at Ibrox when he made the switch from Burnley and became the most high-profile signing of the summer north of the border.

The midfielder is facing a charge from the Scottish FA for allegedly breaching betting rules and appears to be heading for the exit door after just eight outings in Light Blue.

Ferguson said: “I don’t know Barton as a person, I know him as a player.

“Regardless of whether it is Joey Barton or anyone else, if you have a discussion with the manager and it gets hot headed, there is only going to be one winner and that has got to be the manager.

Read more: Ian Ferguson: It is crucial to have a Bluenose in the Rangers side for the Old Firm battle

“There are a lot more important matters at Rangers than Joey Barton at the moment. It is like a pantomime and our friends in the East will be happy to see all of this unfolding.

“As I say, do a Graeme Souness and make your mind up. Let the guy know if he is on board or if he is gone.

“There is no need for three or four weeks out and then come back and see me. That is ludicrous, it is an absolute pantomime and it is not good for Rangers.”