Margate unveil Butler as their surprise choice

Unknown to followers of Kent football, Mark Butler has enjoyed a successful five-year stint at Ashford Town (Middlesex).

He succeeds Welshman, Terry Yorath, who stood down towards the end of last month, due to poor performances on the pitch.

Yorath's assistant, Neville Southall, who steadied the ship, reverts to his position of youth development officer.

Margate, without a game tomorrow, as Tooting & Mitcham United face Blue Square Premier side Eastbourne Borough at home in the final qualifying round of the FA Cup, unveiled Butler as their new manager at a meeting held at the club tonight.

Butler spent five successful seasons at Ashford Town (Middlesex), having joined in December 2004, leading the Short Lane outfit to promotion to the Ryman Premier League in 2005/06, clinched 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.

Butler, 33, resides in Aldershot, Hampshire - a side where he banged in plenty of  goals during his playing career  - and despite his location, works in London, as a travelling salesman, but has family in our area so travelling is not an issue.

A brief Margate statement said tonight, “We would all like to welcome Mark to Margate and wish him all success.”

Butler, issued a statement on his former club’s official website, acknowledging he has made a tough decision to leave the Tangerines to become Margate’s new manager.

“It’s taken a massive amount of deliberation for me to make this decision,” Butler told  www.ashfordtownmiddlesexfc.com.

“I love Ashford Town and we’ve had five great years.  The club is like a family and it was very difficult to leave.

The statement revealed that the Kent club had approached him some weeks ago and he has taken the significant travelling into account before making up his mind to succeed Yorath at Hartsdown Park.

He leaves Ashford Town (Middlesex) with fond memories.

“The club gave the opportunity to manage in the first place and stood by me in difficult times a couple off years ago,” he said.

“I think I’m leaving the club in a healthy, mid-table position and I’m sure the club will use this situation to emerge stronger for the future.

“When my managerial career comes to an end, I’d like to come back to Ashford and give something back to the club by helping out in a different role.”

Butler takes charge of his first training session at 10 o’clock on Saturday morning, at Margate’s Hartsdown Park ground, but he has plenty of time to prepare for his first game in charge, which is away to Hastings United on Saturday, 7th November.

Before tomorrow’s league games, however, Margate stand at 15th in the Ryman Premier League table with a record of four wins and two draws from 12 league games, and it is hoped that a man of Butler’s calibre can guide the Thanet club towards the play-off’s.

Visit Margate's website: www.margate-fc.com

Quotes courtesy of www.ashfordtownmiddlesexfc.com