Nicky Butt chose to leave Manchester United after being overlooked for the football director's post, it has been revealed.
It was announced on Wednesday that former Red Devils midfielder Butt has stepped down as the club's head of first-team development to pursue "a new professional challenge".
The former England ace, who played 387 games for United between 1992 and 2004, was moved up to the position from Head of Academy two years ago and reported directly to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Earlier this month United revamped their backroom set-up with John Murtough appointed to a new role of football director with former midfielder Darren Fletcher promoted to technical director.
The Athletic says those promotions have contributed to Butt's sudden departure.
The appointment of Murtough as United's football director and the way it was handled was a factor in Butt leaving the club.
Sources say the pair were like chalk and cheese, with different perspectives of football, and Butt was reluctant to work under Murtough's stewardship.
It has also been speculated that the ex-midfielder held aspirations of being in the type of technical director role that Fletcher now holds at the club.
