Butt calls for stability

Butt: Out of contract in the summer

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Nicky Butt believes the ongoing confusion at Newcastle could result in a summer exodus.

The Magpies midfielder believes top stars such as Michael Owen are unlikely to commit their future to the club while uncertainty continues to reign around St James' Park.

Owen, along with Butt and keeper Steve Harper, is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club from January as his current deal is set to expire at the end of the 2008/09 campaign.

With interim manager Joe Kinnear also unaware as to what his future may hold, and owner Mike Ashley continuing with his attempts to sell the troubled side, the North East outfit remain in limbo.

Having also slipped back into the Premier League relegation zone on the back of a 2-1 defeat at Fulham on Sunday, Butt is understandably concerned for the ailing Magpies.

Frustrating

"No-one knows who's making the decisions at the club at the moment," the England international said in the Daily Mirror.

"We've got players running out of time on their contracts but no-one can sign a contract, we don't know whether someone's buying the club or not.

"It's the same with the manager. I'm sure he's looking to get himself settled down but at the minute nothing's happening. We'll have to wait and see.

"It's been like that for a while now so as players we've just learnt to get on with it. I'm sure it's more frustrating for the gaffer because he's in limbo. It needs to be sorted soon."