I want to take the club forward, says Margate's surprise choice Butler

Sunday 25th October 2009

MARGATE’S surprise new manager, Mark Butler, says his main aim is to keep the club away from the Ryman Premier League relegation zone, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 33-year-old, who lives in Aldershot, Hampshire, was the surprise choice of the Margate board, when the Hartsdown Park outfit appointed Terry Yorath’s successor at a meeting on Friday evening.

Since his arrival at Short Lane, the London based travelling salesman led his club to promotion to the Ryman Premier League in 2005/06, won the Westview (League) Cup in 2006/07, the Surrey Senior Cup in 2008/09 as well as guiding the Tangerines to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup.

Margate admitted that Butler’s appointment “may have raised a few eyebrows in Kent and Middlesex,” but the new boss is eager to start work and has already met his new team.

Butler attended a training session yesterday morning at Hartsdown Park in an observing capacity, whilst veteran midfielder John Keister took charge of the session.

It was an opportunity for the new boss to meet his new players and as well as a team meeting before and after training, Butler made himself available for one-to-ones with those players that wanted to discuss their futures with the Ryman Premier League club.

“When a new manager comes into a club, some players can be apprehensive, looking over their shoulder,” Butler said in a statement, issued to www.margate-fc.com.

“But I want to make sure that everyone gets a chance.”

Butler sees Margate as a good career move, having moved from unfashionable Ashford Town (Middlesex).

“Ashford is a unique family club,” he said. “But I felt I’d taken the club as far as I could.

“I wanted to manage at a bigger club and I believe Margate is a big club.

“I want to take the club forward. I feel I can do a good job here. I’m young and hungry enough.”

Looking at the Ryman Premier League table this morning, Margate are seventh-from-bottom in the division with 14 points from 12 games - and Butler’s aspirations are clear.

“We need to re-establish the club in the division and move away from the relegation zone,” he said.

“I don’t see us near the relegation zone by the end of the season, but if we put a run together, who knows?

“We’ll talk about what I want from the players at training on Tuesday,” he added. The players work for Margate on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and I expect them to be here (with the club) and if they’re not, they could be fined!”

Margate, who were without a game yesterday as Tooting & Mitcham United held Blue Square Premier side Eastbourne Borough to a 3-3 home draw in the last qualifying round of the FA Cup, are working towards playing a friendly next Saturday, as they are already out of the FA Trophy.

Butler, who banged in plenty of goals for his home-town club Aldershot Town earlier in his career, takes charge of his first league game at Hastings United on Saturday, 7th November.

He has plenty of time to prepare for the game at The Pilot Field, and Margate are expected to line-up differently when they face Tony Dolby’s side, currently in third place with nine more points than the Blues.

“I have a system I prefer my teams to play,” he said. “I know Margate have played 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 for most of the season, but I prefer 4-4-2. But we need to have the players to play in whichever system, so time will tell.

Butler says he’s very approachable and will listen to supporters’ views.

He said: “I’m a bar person after the game and I will listen to the fans.”

Neville Southall, who was Yorath’s assistant, reverts back to his youth development role with the Thanet club, as Butler has already made his first appointment, bringing in UEFA A licensed coach, Steve Beeks, as his number two.

Steve runs the Steve Beeks Soccer School and is an ex-professional footballer with more than 15 years experience of coaching.

Quotes courtesy of www.margate-fc.com