With the Joey Barton saga taking fresh turns on a weekly basis, some of the more conspiracy minded Celtic fans are beginning to believe in 'Agent JB.'

The summer marquee signing has turned into an absolute disaster since the last of the season ticket sales were collected, with the hangover threatening to last another 18 months.

While Mark Warburton preaches about respect at every opportunity it was noticeable that his new manager was absent when Barton put pen to paper and started a one way war of words with Celtic.

The former Burnley midfielder generally knows what he is doing. On the park or off he is prone to kick-off but when it comes to contracts and scheduled media appearances, he knows precisely what he is saying and what his message is.

Having a high profile mouthpiece firing off about about all things Celtic is exactly what the Ibrox hierarchy needed to shift season tickets, while Warburton rumbled around in the bargain basement to put together a title winning squad.

Respect was off the menu as Barton let rip, either through scheduled media interviews or through his regular appearances on talkSPORT.

With no domestic action to cover, Barton's claims were happily passed on by the media as they built up anticipation for the 'return of the Old Firm'.

Whether Warburton was cringing in the background is unknown, as HR experts and employment lawyers pour over the details the claims of Barton look more and more outrageous.

Fittingly, it seems certain that his final appearance in a Rangers shirt was in the 5-1 humiliation at Celtic Park.

The Hoops did their talking on the pitch with the Ibrox club left to pick up the pieces in a saga that shows little sign of ending...

CELTIC'S 'FAILED' LAST MINUTE SIGNING BID

Britain Soccer Football - Celtic v Rangers - Scottish Premiership - Celtic Park - 10/9/16
Rangers' Joey Barton before the game
Reuters / Russell Cheyne
Livepic
EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.  Please contact your account representative for further details.

According to an excerpt from his latest book, Barton claimed that he turned down a late bid from Celtic chief Peter Lawwell as he prepared for his Ibrox move.

Barton wrote: “The message he conveyed was straight and to the point. “Is there anything we can do together? Can we have a conversation?”

Barton goes on to describe the apparent approach as ‘a smart move’. But continues: ‘I sent word back, thanking him for his interest but confirming my intentions.’

Before lunchtime on the day of that claim, Lawwell made it clear that the offer came from Barton's agent with Celtic declining to do business.

ARE YOU A CELTIC FAN JOEY?

Britain Soccer Football - Celtic v Rangers - Scottish Premiership - Celtic Park - 10/9/16
Rangers' Joey Barton arrives before the game
Reuters / Russell Cheyne
Livepic
EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.  Please contact your account representative for further details.

On the day that he was introduced to the media as a Rangers player, Barton was asked about the perception that he was a Celtic fan.

Explaining the situation he said: “Being Joseph Anthony, and my grandmother being Roman Catholic, and going to St Agnes junior school and St Thomas-a-Beckett, I didn’t have pretty much anywhere to go! That is pretty much who you are going to support!

“But I don’t think anybody will be under any illusions about who I will support once I pull on the Rangers jersey.”

SIMPLY THE BEST

Britain Soccer Football - Celtic v Rangers - Scottish Premiership - Celtic Park - 10/9/16
Rangers' Joey Barton looks dejected
Reuters / Russell Cheyne
Livepic
EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.  Please contact your account representative for further details.

Shouting the odds from the comfort of a radio studio is much easier than facing up to the Celtic midfield roared on by 50,000 fans.

Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: “I was the best midfielder in the Championship last year, I think my performances over 46 games proved that.

"There are some good players up here but I’m not coming up here just to be another player. I’m coming up here to be the best player in the country."

Keep them coming, Joey.

SCOTT BROWN ISN'T IN MY LEAGUE

Britain Soccer Football - Celtic v Rangers - Scottish Premiership - Celtic Park - 10/9/16
Rangers' Joey Barton looks dejected as Celtic's Scott Brown applauds fans as he is substitued
Reuters / Russell Cheyne
Livepic
EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.  Please contact your account re

Without a word from the Celtic skipper, Barton seemed determined to create some sort of rivalry between the two players.

Again using talkSPORT as his platform, Barton claimed: “People keep talking about Joey Barton and Scott Brown. He ain’t in my league. He is nowhere the level I am as a player. He can’t get to me.

“If I play well, Scott Brown doesn’t stand a chance. That is not me being blasé. That is me just stating what I believe."

BRENDAN RODGERS AND HIS MIDLIFE CRISIS

Britain Soccer Football - Celtic v Rangers - Scottish Premiership - Celtic Park - 10/9/16
Rangers manager Mark Warburton with' Joey Barton at the end of the game
Reuters / Russell Cheyne
Livepic
EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.  Please contact your account representative for furth

Yip, once against talkSPORT were the outlet with Alan Brazil asking if Barton had crossed paths with the new Celtic manager.

Barton replied: “I’ve not managed to run into him yet. The places he goes and the places I go probably differ, y’know, with the tan and the teeth and all that.

“They’re not the kind of establishments I rock up at, I’m not having a mid-life crisis. I might run into him he goes up to Loch Lomond and I play golf up there.”

While Rodgers prepares for a cup final, retaining the title and the visit of Barcelona this month, Barton is at home with his coffee machine.