IT was his finest hour in blue, a polished and professional showing that earned him back page headlines and had supporters looking forward to his next appearance. This was Joey Barton at his best.

Unfortunately for Rangers, this performance didn’t come at Ibrox. It wasn’t at Dens Park, Rugby Park or on Old Firm day, either.

This cameo was delivered at Auchenhowie as he conducted his media duties on the day he was unveiled as a Rangers player back in May.

Read more: Rangers 3-0 Kilmarnock: Points won't mean prizes but performances will ease the pressure for Mark WarburtonGlasgow Times: Celtic's Scott Brown (right) with Joey Barton. Picture: SNS

Barton posed for the photographers, delivered sound bites for the broadcasters and then sat down with journalists from the daily and Sunday papers to discuss everything from his time in jail to his now infamous ambitions for his first season in Scotland.

Eight appearances and a few hundred grand later and it is all coming to an end. Now, sooner rather than later, he will be former Rangers midfielder Joey Barton.

The gamble has failed for Mark Warburton. That doesn’t mean to say that it wasn’t one that was worth taking, though.

Read more: Rangers 3-0 Kilmarnock: Points won't mean prizes but performances will ease the pressure for Mark Warburton

The attraction of signing Barton was clear. Yes, he had a history of misdemeanours, that is putting his charge-sheet lightly, but, on the face of it at least, he was a reformed character.

For those that saw him in action in the Championship last season, he was certainly a more than capable player. He was a stand-out for Burnley but he has been a disaster signing for Rangers.

Warburton had to cover for Barton when he aimed cheap shots at Brendan Rodgers and Scott Brown but when the Scouser fired off his mouth at his own manager that was the beginning of the end for him at Ibrox.

It wasn’t the last we heard from him, of course. Unable to keep his silence, he couldn’t resist the urge to tell his side of the story on national radio.

It was good for book sales but hardly the move of a man that wanted to work his way back into Warburton’s plans and attempt to live up to his own hype in Scottish football.

The 34-year-old was back in Glasgow on Thursday for talks with Gers chiefs and he could return to Auchenhowie in the coming weeks and pull on his boots once again as Rangers provide him with training facilities.

But he will never play on Warburton’s watch and a January exit back to England now appears to be the best outcome for all concerned as the Barton saga continues into another week.

Rangers were never going to pay out the best part of £2million just to get Barton off the premises. That scenario made no sense, especially with the transfer window around the corner.

Having started the campaign with his sights set on the silverware, he will end it many miles away from Ibrox.

His next employers will hope they get better value for money than an hour in front of the media.

AND ANOTHER THING

The Armed Forces were welcomed back to Ibrox on Saturday as Rangers marked Remembrance Day ahead of their Premiership fixture with Kilmarnock.

Six members of the Army, the Navy and the RAF joined the 207 (City of Glasgow) Battery, part of 105 Regiment Royal Artillery, on the park for the minute silence, while funds from a can collection will be donated to PoppyScotland.

A ‘Lest We Forget’ display in the Sandy Jardine Stand was a poignant backdrop as a 49,000 strong crowd paid their respects.

There will be similar scenes the length and breadth of the nation in the coming weeks as football honours those that paid the ultimate sacrifice serving their country.

Not every club will go to the lengths that Rangers did at the weekend, but all clubs should mark Remembrance weekend.

And it is certainly not too much to ask every supporter of every club to fall silent for 60 seconds. An act of decency should not be beyond you just because you have a football shirt on.