WALTER SMITH hopes Rangers can put the Joey Barton ‘sideshow’ behind them after the controversial midfielder quit Ibrox last week.

Barton was the headline signing of the summer for boss Mark Warburton as he penned a two-year deal with the Gers following his exit from Burnley.

But he made just eight appearances in Light Blue before a training ground bust-up signalled the beginning of the end of his career in Glasgow.

Read more: Walter Smith: Rangers fans had to be realistic ahead of new Premiership campaign

Barton was suspended for several weeks after a row with boss Warburton in the aftermath of the 5-1 Old Firm defeat at Parkhead.

The 34-year-old walked away with around £250,000 after his contract was terminated and he is now free to clinch a return to England during the January transfer window.

Rangers head into their Premiership clash against Dundee eleven points adrift of Celtic and third in the standings after a lacklustre start to the campaign.

Read more: Walter Smith: Rangers fans had to be realistic ahead of new Premiership campaign

And Ibrox legend Smith reckons the Barton saga wouldn’t have helped during the opening months of the season as Warburton’s side have struggled in the top flight.

Smith said: “I don’t know what happened, but it was a sideshow that we could have done without in the first half of the season.

“It was always going to be difficult coming back into the Premiership with a lot of new players who are experiencing it with Rangers for the first time. I think they will be glad that is over and that they can get on with it.

“I don’t know Joey Barton at all. His reputation at Burnley wasn’t bad, was it?

“He was Championship Player of the Year. Unless I have missed something, I don’t think he did a great deal wrong.

Read more: Walter Smith: Rangers fans had to be realistic ahead of new Premiership campaign

“Whatever happened at Rangers, I can’t comment on because I don’t know. You look at what is happening on the field more than anything else.

“Rangers knew the early part, the first half of the season, were going to have a settling in period.

“This was a circumstance that they could have done without because everyone would have hoped he would have had a bigger influence on the team than ended up being the case.”