BUTT SEES HIS ARSE

Last updated : 14 February 2006 By Ed

The Guardian:

Nicky Butt's Birmingham City career was thrown into doubt last night after he stormed out of the team hotel following a selection dispute with his manager Steve Bruce.

The former England midfielder, on a season's loan at the club, refused to go to Upton Park when he was not included in the 16-man squad to face West Ham. The match ended in a 3-0 defeat that leaves Birmingham six points adrift of West Bromwich and Premiership safety.

Although Bruce said Butt was not selected due to injury, the inclusion of his own son Alex, normally a defender, in the midfield position he had vacated added to the intrigue. Bruce did not stand by Butt when asked if the challenge to his authority would lead to the player being returned to his former club Newcastle.

"I'll deal with that over the next 48 hours and we'll have a conversation, I'm sure," he said. "We'll deal with it as we see fit. It's a bit difficult [to discuss] now. I've just seen my team get stuffed.

"He travelled with the team and, when he wasn't involved in the 16, he's left to go home. That was at the hotel. When he's not in the 16, he didn't want to be involved in the ground, which he then decided on his own bat - he didn't ask for permission - to leave and go home."

Bruce defended the selection of his 21-year-old son. Asked if that had contributed to Butt's walk-out, Bruce said: "I wouldn't have thought that was a factor. We're very, very light in midfield with no Muzzy Izzet or David Dunn. [Alex] was a makeshift midfielder and I thought he did OK."