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From the Southern Daily Echo's weekly sports paper The Pink, 3 July 2010:
CITY CAN RELY ON GUY TO DO THE JOB
But veteran defender is not sure he's got one
Guy Butters will continue to fight the good fight for Winchester City on the field next term, but he is not entirely sure if his job title extends to assistant manager. When ex-Saint Glenn Cockerill was appointed managerial successor to the Hussey brothers towards the end of last season, Butters - the vastly experienced former Spurs, Portsmouth and Brighton & Hove centre-back - was the natural man to turn to as he settled in, writes Wendy Gee.
But Butters, who was due to lead City's first pre-season training session this week while Cockerill was on holiday, has no idea if he is the official number two or not. "No one's said I'm assistant manager, so I don't really know," he said, when asked his City job title. "It was a case of Glenn coming in and not knowing the players or the set-up, so he asked me to do the team sheets, the warm-ups and so on. I don't know what Glenn is doing over the summer, whether he is bringing in a new assistant manager or coaches. But if I am asked to do a job in any shape or form then I am very happy to do it. It's just nice being around and associated with the club. I'm basically doing the assistant manager's job at the moment but, above all, I'm concentrating on the football and getting myself fit."
With his 41st birthday looming in October and a long career spanning more than 600 League games behind him, Hillingdon-born Butters is not getting any younger. But his powerful 6ft 3in frame got him through 43 Wessex games for Winchester last season, scoring four goals, and he sees no reason not to continue. "I won a few player-of-the-season trophies so I'm not doing too badly." he smiled. "I know I'm 40, but I don't feel it, so I might as well carry on until my legs give up on me. I don't see why I can't play this year and maybe next year too. A good mate of mine, Andy Hessenthaler, who's just taken over as Gillingham manager, played until he was 45 at Dover, so it can be done. Playing in the Wessex League last season suited my game. A lot of it was in the air and I could organise the people around me. Unless the standard of the Wessex is raised a hell of a lot, I don't see why I shouldn't continue. I'll know when it's time to call it a day when the old niggles start creeping in and the legs start to go. But, after watching the World Cup, I'm really looking forward to next season and I can't wait to get back into training."
Under Cockerill's canny charge, Winchester finished last season strongly, unbeaten in their last eight Sydenhams Premier games. Now Butters sees promotion as a realistic target next season. "Glenn's an excellent manager who has been around at Woking and various other clubs. I am sure, come pre-season, there will be 20 more players turning up for trials to try and bring in a better calibre of player. That is no disrespect to the lads there at the moment, but he is not going to come in and comb things over. He wants to come in, get promotion and better himself as a manager, just as I still want to get better as a player," he said. "I've lived in this area for 16/17 years now and, having read about Winchester in the press, I understand how big a club it can be. I see no reason why we can't achieve that with the right backing and support."
CITY CAN RELY ON GUY TO DO THE JOB
But veteran defender is not sure he's got one
Guy Butters will continue to fight the good fight for Winchester City on the field next term, but he is not entirely sure if his job title extends to assistant manager. When ex-Saint Glenn Cockerill was appointed managerial successor to the Hussey brothers towards the end of last season, Butters - the vastly experienced former Spurs, Portsmouth and Brighton & Hove centre-back - was the natural man to turn to as he settled in, writes Wendy Gee.
But Butters, who was due to lead City's first pre-season training session this week while Cockerill was on holiday, has no idea if he is the official number two or not. "No one's said I'm assistant manager, so I don't really know," he said, when asked his City job title. "It was a case of Glenn coming in and not knowing the players or the set-up, so he asked me to do the team sheets, the warm-ups and so on. I don't know what Glenn is doing over the summer, whether he is bringing in a new assistant manager or coaches. But if I am asked to do a job in any shape or form then I am very happy to do it. It's just nice being around and associated with the club. I'm basically doing the assistant manager's job at the moment but, above all, I'm concentrating on the football and getting myself fit."
With his 41st birthday looming in October and a long career spanning more than 600 League games behind him, Hillingdon-born Butters is not getting any younger. But his powerful 6ft 3in frame got him through 43 Wessex games for Winchester last season, scoring four goals, and he sees no reason not to continue. "I won a few player-of-the-season trophies so I'm not doing too badly." he smiled. "I know I'm 40, but I don't feel it, so I might as well carry on until my legs give up on me. I don't see why I can't play this year and maybe next year too. A good mate of mine, Andy Hessenthaler, who's just taken over as Gillingham manager, played until he was 45 at Dover, so it can be done. Playing in the Wessex League last season suited my game. A lot of it was in the air and I could organise the people around me. Unless the standard of the Wessex is raised a hell of a lot, I don't see why I shouldn't continue. I'll know when it's time to call it a day when the old niggles start creeping in and the legs start to go. But, after watching the World Cup, I'm really looking forward to next season and I can't wait to get back into training."
Under Cockerill's canny charge, Winchester finished last season strongly, unbeaten in their last eight Sydenhams Premier games. Now Butters sees promotion as a realistic target next season. "Glenn's an excellent manager who has been around at Woking and various other clubs. I am sure, come pre-season, there will be 20 more players turning up for trials to try and bring in a better calibre of player. That is no disrespect to the lads there at the moment, but he is not going to come in and comb things over. He wants to come in, get promotion and better himself as a manager, just as I still want to get better as a player," he said. "I've lived in this area for 16/17 years now and, having read about Winchester in the press, I understand how big a club it can be. I see no reason why we can't achieve that with the right backing and support."
