Scunthorpe United boss refutes pressure claim after Lee Clark's Hartlepool United exit
Scunthorpe United manager Andy Butler is believed to be under pressure as his side prepare to host Hartlepool United on Saturday.
Scunthorpe United head coach Andy Butler has refuted claims Lee Clark’s decision to step down at Hartlepool United will trigger a managerial merry-go-round in the National League as speculation over his own future increased.
Clark opted to bring an end to his short time in charge of Pools within half an hour of Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat against newly-promoted Worthing after a sixth loss in their last seven games left his side sitting in the bottom six of the National League table. First-team coach Gary Liddle and assistant first-team coach Adam Clayton have been confirmed as interim management team and the first game on their agenda will be a visit to Scunthorpe on Saturday as they face a home side that have received strong criticism following a run of six defeats in their last eight games.
Those results have left Butler’s side sitting third from bottom in the table in what has been a far cry from an impressive season last time out as the Iron secured a play-off spot before a semi-final defeat against Rochdale ended any thoughts over a possible return to the EFL after a four-year absence. Despite the increasing pressure, Butler has insisted his side will improve and stressed he is not concerned Clark’s decision to step down will impact on his own position.
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Speaking after a narrow defeat in East London, the Iron boss told BBC Humberside: “I’m not in control of my destiny. Well, I am - but I’m not in control of what other people do. I still believe, from where we have come from in the last two years, we are still in a good position, and there are loads of games to play. I still think we will be there or thereabouts. People will laugh at that but I do.”
Clark’s decision to step down at Pools was then put to Butler as a reason why a managerial merry-go-round could being - but the Iron boss refuted such claims. He said: “I’m under pressure every single day, it doesn’t matter about results, pressure is part of life. I don’t think because one manager gets sacked it starts a merry-go-round, I don’t think that’s true.”
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