Soccer: Grip supports move by Butt
The midfielder has asked to leave the club he has been with for more than a decade because of his limited first-team opportunities at Old Trafford this season.
Grip, Sven-Goran Eriksson's right-hand man, feels the time is now right for Butt to seek regular first-XI football if he is to remain part of the national team set-up.
"It's better for him to get back playing regularly. If he wants a move and United are willing to let him go, it's good if he can play a bit more," the Swede said.
"He has been an important player for us. He is so good with the holding role. He is experienced, disciplined and has good feet. So that's good for us." Butt's decision to leave the Red Devils means he will turn his back on a lucrative £1 million testimonial.
Ferguson confirmed he had accepted a transfer request from Butt, who is sure to attract the attention of most Barclaycard Premiership managers.
Ferguson has previously suggested he has fielded more inquiries about the combative midfielder than any other player under his charge and Birmingham, Everton, Tottenham and even Manchester City are bound to be interested.
Judging by the pre-Christmas comments of Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren, though, it is Ferguson's former assistant who will be first in the queue.
"He would be the perfect player for us," McClaren claimed on December 21. "If there was any possibility of getting him I would be first on the phone. Nicky is someone I know very well. He has not been happy at not getting in the side and all he wants to do is play football."
Meanwhile, Ferguson has been offered the support of the League Managers Association over the apparent campaign to undermine his position at Manchester United.
There have been claims that leaked stories the most recent about a link between Ferguson's son Jason and the transfer of keeper Tim Howard and planted questions at United's recent AGM were all part of a campaign to discredit the Scot.
It has been reported that Irish racing millionaire John Magnier, United's major shareholder who is locked in a bitter legal dispute with Ferguson over stud fees for racehorse Rock of Gibraltar, is behind the campaign.
Meanwhile, LMA chief executive John Barnwell told the Press Association: "Clearly someone is trying to stir something up. This is one of the problems that can arise with a plc. Private companies do not sit comfortably with football clubs as people have a lot of different agendas.
"They have dragged up the old chestnut about connections with his son but we have a very clear code of conduct and managers have a duty to inform the club about any dealings with agents.
"If Sir Alex asks us for any help we shall be only too happy to give it."
Ferguson believes he is entitled to half the stud fees of Rock of Gibraltar, worth up to £50m, and in the autumn issued legal proceedings against Magnier, who owns 24% of the club with business partner J P McManus.
The row is swiftly becoming a serious issue for United with their most high-profile employee locking horns with their biggest shareholder.
United's biggest fear is that the brand will suffer from the adverse publicity and if that begins to happen then the board will surely step in.
The evidence was handed to United chief executive David Gill and Crick said: "He was genuinely shocked that United's leading shareholder was appearing to be using underhand tactics to settle a personal dispute with the club's most important employee, Ferguson, and that he was using the club's AGM as a platform for that.
"It was a bit of a bungled operation. I don't suppose Magnier will be too unhappy about that because it puts further pressure on Ferguson."
Meanwhile, Real Valladolid coach Fernando Vasquez rejected a new offer from United to become Ferguson's assistant.
Vasquez, who rejected a pre-season bid from Ferguson to succeed Carlos Queiroz as his deputy, told www.skysports.com he had received a second approach but could not abandon his work at Valladolid.
"Manchester United have renewed their interest but I cannot suddenly abandon the project I have started at Valladolid."
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