West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic said there were a number of factors that contributed to the club not signing free agent Joey Barton rather than a single one.
It was reported on Tuesday that the 32-year-was due to undergo a medical at the club, but the deal is now off.
West Ham chairman David Gold confirmed the move was off after reports of protests from angry Hammers fans about the prospect of the club signing the former Queens Park Rangers midfielder.
Asked why the one-cap England international had not joined, Bilic told Sky Sports News: “We were thinking about Joey, I like him as a player, we had talks and had some ideas about him but we decided against it as it wasn’t the best timing.
"Joey is a great lad and also a good player, he wished us well and we also want to wish him well.”
Pressed on whether it was because of said protest by supporters, the Croatian replied: “No, no, it was altogether, not just one thing."
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