Butler’s the new Arundel boss

SIMON Butler has been appointed the new manager of Arundel Football Club after Gary Wheatcroft was sacked last week, and the new boss has issued the cry, “our season starts here”.

Following Wheatcroft’s sacking, Mullets have promoted from within and appointed Butler, who was Wheatcroft’s assistant.

Butler has been at the club for five years, first as assistant to Vic Short, then Richard Towers and this season Wheatcroft.

Butler said: “Bob (Marchant, chairman) contacted me on Wednesday morning after Gary had left and asked me if I wanted the job.

“As well as being honoured and delighted to be offered, I didn’t want the players to go through more upheaval, and as I have a good rapport with the players and they respect me, I felt I wanted a crack at it.

“Gary had a tough time with injuries and a lack of depth, regularly only naming two subs but Bob’s worry was that we would get pulled into relegation trouble if results continued to go against us and he couldn’t let that happen.”

With Arundel 15th in County League Division 1 with games in hand, Butler, who will be assisted by current player Dave Hall, has set an aim of a top 10 finish, but will also be striving to sort out the club’s poor disciplinary record.