Butt plays waiting game

Nicky Butt wants to remain with Manchester United until the growing doubts over Sir Alex Ferguson's future at Old Trafford are resolved.

Although Birmingham made a £5.5million bid for the England midfielder yesterday, Butt has told close friends he prefers to wait until Ferguson's current contract talks are settled before deciding on his next move.

The United manager is still waiting to finalise a two-year extension to his contract, which runs out in 2005. Talks have been on hold while Ferguson is in dispute with John Magnier and partner J P McManus - who increased their stake in United to 25.49 per cent on Monday - over the stud rights of racehorse Rock of Gibraltar.

Butt, who asked for a move last week, will talk to City boss Steve Bruce out of courtesy but is reluctant to leave the champions for a lesser team.

Newcastle, Everton and Liverpool are all watching developments. However, no move is likely to take place until the summer. Former United skipper Bruce hopes the link will boost his chances of landing the 29-year-old, although he rates the chances of getting his man as only '50-50'.

Butt's girlfriend Shelley Barlow gave birth to a girl, Jersey, on Monday and the player is reluctant to move too far from the couple's base south of Manchester.