Source: Daily_Mail
Nicky Butt admits South China switch is journey into unknown
On the move: Butt is set to come out of retirement [LNB]Nicky Butt admits he will be stepping completely into the unknown when he takes up his short-term contract with South China FC early next year.[LNB]Butt will travel to Hong Kong this weekend on a fact-finding mission but is virtually certain to sign a three-month deal that will see him link up with his new team-mates at the beginning of February.[LNB]It is not really where the 35-year-old expected to end up when he announced he was quitting the game at the end of last season.[LNB]But he has been won over by the enthusiasm of chairman Steven Lo and as the former Manchester United and England star was at a loose end until he takes his first steps on the coaching ladder next summer, Butt decided exploring new horizons would be a worthwhile exercise.[LNB]'I am not going to lie,' he said. 'I have not been studying the Chinese League or Hong Kong for many years. It is all new to me. But I have been there two or three times and it is unbelievable how passionate the fans in Asia are.[LNB]'The football is not at the level of the Premier League but their fans still take it very seriously.'[LNB]Having watched old friend David Beckham take his career to the United States, Butt knew there was interest in him, having decided halfway through last season he no longer had the appetite for Premier League combat.[LNB] Champagne supernova: Butt won six Premier League titles with Manchester United [LNB]He would certainly hope to have more success than Paul Gascoigne,whose own ill-fated stint with Gansu Tianma ended with him travellingto the US for treatment to combat depression.[LNB]Hong Kong promises to be a more pleasurable experience by far, evenif Butt refutes the suggestion that he is earning anywhere close to the£200,000 weekly salary that has been reported in some quarters.[LNB]'If it was that amount of money I would be signing for four years,not three months,' he laughed. 'At this present time, it just ticks allthe boxes.[LNB]'I want to go down the coaching route in future but I can't start that until May.[LNB]'Hong Kong was a long way from my thoughts but I spoke to a fewpeople about it and the length of the contract fits in perfectly.[LNB] Far Eastern promises: Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne was treated for depression following a stint with Chinese team Gansu Tianma[LNB]'I have been there with United a couple of times and also Englandbut it is going to be different to flying in, playing a game and flyingout, which is what you tend to do.[LNB]'But when I have been there before I experienced a great warmth from the people and the place itself is amazing.'[LNB]That Butt is still capable of playing raises an obvious question about whether he retired too early. He insists he did not.[LNB]'I was not enjoying going training every day and I was fed up notplaying all the games,' he said. 'When you get to a certain age youhave to accept it. But your pride is still there.[LNB]'Even though I am 35 I was still thinking I should be playing allthe time and I was good enough to get in the Newcastle team every week.[LNB]'But I was realistic enough to know that is not going to happen.Even the lads at Manchester United don't play every week. Your legscatch up with you. I don't regret retiring at all.'[LNB] Ex-Manchester United midfielder Butt ties up deal with Hong Kong teamEx-Manchester United midfielder Butt considering shock Hong Kong move Free agent Nicky Butt considering offer from Preston boss Darren Ferguson to extend his playing daysNewcastle captain Nicky Butt set to finish his career on a high noteMANCHESTER UNITED FC
