Manchester United legend Nicky Butt has admitted he had to leave Old Trafford before he ‘blew up’ with those running the club.
During his playing days, Butt was the combative midfielder in Sir Alex Ferguson’s all-conquering teams. And that feisty nature remained when he went into coaching and he revealed he would often clash with United’s top brass.
Butt stepped down from his role as Head of First-Team Development in March 2021, having spent nine years within the Red Devils coaching setup. The 48-year-old has now opened up on his departure and hinted at the dysfunction under the current regime.
“My vision and my philosophy and what I was brought up on at Man United didn't go with the people running the club so it was time to leave,” he told the Daily Mail. “I am not saying I was right all the time but I knew if I didn't leave I was gonna blow. And that wouldn't be good.”
Results on the pitch have steadily declined under the much-maligned ownership of the Glazers - who have recently put the club up for sale. And Butt has made it clear that he disagreed with the way board members were directing United, during his final days in the role.
He added: “I was sick of people upstairs telling me about football. If I was to tell people in the boardroom how to run a football club they would just look at me wouldn't they? But they have the right to talk about developing players?
"So I was p***** off about it. Eventually I left but before that I went and did a CEO course. I didn't ever want to be one. I just wanted to be more in tune with a chief exec, to be more empathetic."
“You don't go through seven years of coaching badges to toss it off and not do it again,” Butt continued. “But I got to a fork in the road and I went the other way. I wasn't happy at United so I left. I had a bit of a chip on my shoulder if I am honest.”
Butt’s exit coincided with a restructuring at United, with John Murtough appointed as the club’s Football Director in the same month. Darren Fletcher has since been hired as a technical director, with an uptick in results under current coach Erik ten Hag.
Nevertheless, there is a desire for the Glazers to leave the club sooner rather than later, with at least two parties plotting a takeover. However, there is understood to be a divide amongst the American family over what they will do with their prized asset, with a suggestion they could remain if fresh investment can be secured.
That would be the worst case scenario as far as Butt’s treble-winning teammate Gary Neville is concerned, making it clear their departure must be the end result of investment talks.
"I think what scares Man United fans most is the feeling this Man United ownership are running this process to drive a massive price up,” Neville told Sky Sports.
"To try to somehow establish a level which means two of them can stay in and the rest of the family that want out can be bought out by an American fund who wouldn't mind owning a minority or significant share but not the entirety of the share. That's the biggest concern.
"The whole emphasis at this moment in time from Man United fans is this has to be the end of the Glazer ownership.”
It is understood that interested parties, including Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim, are expected to hear where their respective bids stand imminently. Although there have been reports that neither have hit the kind of figure that would facilitate a quick sale.
