10:28am Wednesday 4th February 2009
By Paul Fraser
NICKY BUTT intends to stay with Newcastle United for the rest of his career and is desperate to transform the club’s ailing fortunes before he eventually retires.
After almost two months of discussions, Butt finally signed a new one-year contract extension at St James’ Park yesterday, allaying fears he was ready to walk away for nothing in the summer.
Despite having a clause in his contract which triggered an option for the extension once he had played 19 league matches this season, Newcastle’s Premier League plight has raised doubts about almost every one of the Magpies players’ futures.
Butt was no different.
However, instead of delaying a decision on extending his time with the club in the summer Michael Owenstyle, Butt has decided now is the time to pledge his future to the club.
He will be 35 when his new contract expires and is hoping Newcastle will be his last club before bringing the curtain down on an illustrious career.
“I’m happy to get it sorted and I now know that I’ll be staying at Newcastle next season,” said Butt. “Hopefully we can get things moving forward again and start climbing the table and finish this season as strong as we possibly can.”
The 34-year-old has played 138 matches for Newcastle since ending 12 years with Manchester United in the summer of 2004.
And while he is in the twilight of his career, his determination to bring back better times to Tyneside before he leaves is an indication he is enjoying working under Joe Kinnear.
Kinnear, who had until yesterday to respond to a charge of improper conduct for his touchline feud with Hull’s Phil Brown last month, struggled to make as many new signings as he would have liked ahead of the closure of the transfer window on Monday.
But Newcastle have privately denied suggestions the failure to bring in more players during the last month could mean Dennis Wise’s days as executive director (football) are over.
It was claimed yesterday that Wise was set for the axe, with owner Mike Ashley looking to bring in either Alan Shearer or Steve Bruce as manager in the summer.
But St James’ Park officials denied such suggestions last night.
Kinnear will take Newcastle to West Brom on Saturday with full-back Ryan Taylor the only likely debutant for a match Newcastle can ill-afford to lose.
The 62-year-old’s chances of pulling off a result could be boosted by the news that Obafemi Martins is likely to be back from a seven-week hernia lay-off.
Martins and Alan Smith could both be involved at the Hawthorns, having both failed late fitness tests that would have seen them involved in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland.
Another piece of encouraging news for Kinnear is that Michael Owen could return to action from his ankle injury at the beginning of March.
■ Newcastle United Supporters Club are inviting fans to an open meeting tonight at the Tyneside Irish Centre, Newcastle, from 7pm to discuss the club’s current management structure.
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