Nicky Butt says boardoom and managerial upheaval at Newcastle United is no excuse for the players.

"You have to get on with it," the midfielder told the Evening Chronicle. "We come here and we train on the training field regardless of who is in charge.

"We cannot change it. We cannot control what happens in the boardroom, or which manager comes in or what injuries we have. Footballers are selfish people, what I mean by that is they look after themselves and we do that by going out and training hard.

"No matter who is in charge - you have to do your best. It does not help what has gone on in the background, but it is no excuse for us."