Danny Butterfield departs for Southampton

Exeter City’s first team coach, Danny Butterfield, is leaving to take up a role with Southampton as assistant manager of their under-18s side.

Danny, who joined the club in September 2013, has recently made the transition from a player to work alongside manager Paul Tisdale with the first team. However, he is set to move to Hampshire to take up a new role with the Premier League club following the club’s match with Notts County on September 29.

Danny admits he will be sad to say goodbye to the place that offered him his first opportunity in coaching, he said:-

The club, especially the manager, are very brave in giving people an opportunity to fulfill their potential and I’m truly grateful for that.

I’m grateful to Tis (Paul Tisdale) for the opportunity he has given me at Exeter City and to make the transition from a player to a coach a very smooth one.

People in my position might not have been given an opportunity to go and work with the first team like Tis gave me. So, I’m truly grateful for that opportunity.

I know that the team are going to be successful this year so it will be a shame that I will be moving and not be part of that.

But, it is a career choice, and I have made the decision and I’m looking forward to it.

Danny also admits he will be sad to leave behind some of the people he works with every day:-

I’m also leaving behind people who I enjoy coming to work with every day in Mel (Gwinnett), Steve (Perryman), Matt (Oakley), Marcus (Flitcroft), Lou (Pring) and the physio Ade (Saunderson) and Jess (Preece).

So, it sad day, once you make that final decision to uproot and move the family, but it’s also sad because I will miss working with these guys every day because it’s a great place to come and work.

I have enjoyed my time here and I will still look out for Exeter City’s results. I will stay in touch, with Tis and everyone who works for the club.