IPSWICH legend Terry Butcher's dream move to Australia turned sour today when he parted company with Sydney FC.Butcher's job has been on the line for some time as he struggled to come to terms with the switch Down Under.
By Mel Henderson
IPSWICH legend Terry Butcher's dream move to Australia turned sour today when he parted company with Sydney FC.
Butcher's job has been on the line for some time as he struggled to come to terms with the switch Down Under.
He leaves Sydney, the pre-season title favourites, in fourth place in the eight-team A League - 16 points behind leaders Melbourne Victory.
A statement on the club's official website read: “Sydney FC today confirmed that the contractual arrangement with Terry Butcher as head coach of the club has come to an end.
“The parties and their lawyers have had discussions. No further statements or comments will be issued or made at this stage.
“An interim coaching structure will be implemented for the six AFC Asian Champions League matches.”
Former Rangers and Ipswich defender Butcher's last match in charge was the 2-0 defeat to Newcastle Jets in the finals series of the competition on February 2.
Singapore-born and Lowestoft-raised Butcher made 351 appearances, scoring 21 goals, for Town before a £750,000 move to Ibrox in 1986.
He was an inspirational skipper in his time at Portman Road and also captained England under ex-Town boss Bobby Robson.
Butcher also managed Coventry and Sunderland before returning north of the border and it was in May last year that he quit his job as Motherwell boss to move to Australia.
After travelling to Sydney to complete negotiations he said: “I have been hugely impressed by the club and their ambitions for the future.
“And let's be honest, aside from anything else, it is a wonderful opportunity for me and my family and is just too big to turn down.”
But cracks in the relationship were apparent soon after the season got under way, with his assistant, former Norwich star Ian Crook, departing for Japan after the pair had a fall-out.
A lack of wins added to the pressure he was under and the 2-0 defeat to Newcastle was the final straw for the club's directors.
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