Silent Bob
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- Dec 6, 2004
- 22,172
Butters backs Brighton to return
By Paul Fletcher
Brighton defender Guy Butters believes the club can bounce back after relegation from the Championship.
The Seagulls went down after defeat at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Monday.
But Butters told BBC Sport: "If they can keep the nucleus of the squad together I cannot see any reason why the team won't bounce straight back up.
"The club is used to these sort of things - they have been through numerous promotions and relegations over the years."
Butters was a member of the Brighton team that won the 2004 League One play-off final 12 months after the club had been relegated.
He believes that while the club remains at the Withdean Stadium they will always struggle to establish themselves in the Championship.
Brighton's hopes of building a new ground at Falmer suffered a setback earlier in March when it emerged that Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott made a mistake in his approval letter.
"The stadium is a major factor," added Butters. "It has played a big part in the reason we have been relegated.
"The manager, Mark McGhee, has been looking for new players and either the budget is not stretching or they don't want to come down and play at the Withdean."
Butters is out of contract at the end of the season but would relish the chance to stay for another season and help the club earn a quick promotion.
And he believes that with young players such as Joel Lynch, Joe Gatting and Tommy Elphick making their debuts during such a difficult campaign it will stand the club in good stead next season.
"We have a relatively small squad and a lot of young players from the youth team have been blooded," added the 36-year-old.
"The gaffer might have wanted to wait a little bit longer before giving them a chance but it was all hands on the pumps."
But he is fearful that the club could face a struggle to keep some of the highly rated younger players.
"There are one or two that people have been looked at and might be snapped up by bigger clubs," said Butters.
"With a club like Brighton if someone came in with a big offer it would be difficult for the club to turn them down."
Brighton had been in good form prior to Monday's reverse, winning two and drawing three of their previous six games.
And the veteran defender reckons the experienced players can help the youngsters overcome their disappointment and come back much stronger next season.
"It is done now and there is nothing we can do about it," he said.
"The experienced players that have been through it know we have to explain that to the youngsters.
"We have to put a line under it and go onwards and upwards for next season."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/4920228.stm
By Paul Fletcher
Brighton defender Guy Butters believes the club can bounce back after relegation from the Championship.
The Seagulls went down after defeat at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Monday.
But Butters told BBC Sport: "If they can keep the nucleus of the squad together I cannot see any reason why the team won't bounce straight back up.
"The club is used to these sort of things - they have been through numerous promotions and relegations over the years."
Butters was a member of the Brighton team that won the 2004 League One play-off final 12 months after the club had been relegated.
He believes that while the club remains at the Withdean Stadium they will always struggle to establish themselves in the Championship.
Brighton's hopes of building a new ground at Falmer suffered a setback earlier in March when it emerged that Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott made a mistake in his approval letter.
"The stadium is a major factor," added Butters. "It has played a big part in the reason we have been relegated.
"The manager, Mark McGhee, has been looking for new players and either the budget is not stretching or they don't want to come down and play at the Withdean."
Butters is out of contract at the end of the season but would relish the chance to stay for another season and help the club earn a quick promotion.
And he believes that with young players such as Joel Lynch, Joe Gatting and Tommy Elphick making their debuts during such a difficult campaign it will stand the club in good stead next season.
"We have a relatively small squad and a lot of young players from the youth team have been blooded," added the 36-year-old.
"The gaffer might have wanted to wait a little bit longer before giving them a chance but it was all hands on the pumps."
But he is fearful that the club could face a struggle to keep some of the highly rated younger players.
"There are one or two that people have been looked at and might be snapped up by bigger clubs," said Butters.
"With a club like Brighton if someone came in with a big offer it would be difficult for the club to turn them down."
Brighton had been in good form prior to Monday's reverse, winning two and drawing three of their previous six games.
And the veteran defender reckons the experienced players can help the youngsters overcome their disappointment and come back much stronger next season.
"It is done now and there is nothing we can do about it," he said.
"The experienced players that have been through it know we have to explain that to the youngsters.
"We have to put a line under it and go onwards and upwards for next season."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/4920228.stm
