Club stand by Butt

MANCHESTER UNITED will not suspend Nicky Butt, who has strongly protested his innocence following his arrest on suspicion of assault. The club’s head of academy was interviewed by police on Tuesday following reports of an incident which left a woman with a cut thumb in Hale, Greater Manchester. Butt has now been bailed until May 16. United declined to comment but Sportsmail understands Butt will remain in his post pending the outcome of the police investigation. Lawyers for Butt, 44, said in a statement yesterday: ‘Mr Butt strongly denies any allegations or suggestions of an assault and will continue to co-operate and assist the police.’ A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said: ‘Police were called at 2pm on Tuesday to reports that a woman had been assaulted. She received a small cut to her hand and does not require hospital treatment.’