Barry Fry has suggested in an exclusive interview with Football FanCast that Nicky Butt left Manchester United in protest at their behind-the-scenes appointments.

Butt left Old Trafford after nine years last week, amid speculation that he could move to either Celtic or Preston North End.

There has yet to be any movement on either of those roles, as there was a suggestion that he could link up with Roy Keane if he were appointed manager with the Scottish giants, or potentially become Preston’s manager.

He left after two major off-pitch appointments in March, as John Murtough was appointed as the club’s first ever Football Director, and Darren Fletcher, another former United midfielder, was given the role of technical director, per United's official website.

It is unclear if Butt left because of those appointments, although there has been a suggestion made by The Athletic that Murtough’s hiring played a role in the ex-central midfielder leaving.

Butt had played for the club between 1992 and 2004, winning six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, and the Champions League. He first joined United as a coach in 2012.

And Fry has suggested that background politics were at play in his departure.

Speaking exclusively to FFC, he said: "Now for him to abruptly leave it means that, and I'm reading between the lines, he didn't agree with the appointments that have been made this week.

“It’s sad really because he's given a lot on and off the field to the club.”