Butcher takes Inverness job but will keep Scotland role

(PA)

Inverness Caledonian Thistle yesterday named Terry Butcher as their new manager, with Maurice Malpas also joining the club as his assistant.

Former England captain Butcher replaces Craig Brewster, who was sacked a week ago following a run of seven straight Premier League defeats.

Caley Thistle, in their fifth season in the top flight, lie two points adrift at the foot of the table, with Butcher and former Scotland defender Malpas tasked with preserving their SPL status.

Butcher has been Scotland's assistant manager for almost a year, a role he will now combine with his new job in the Highlands. But it appears he will have to relinquish his punditry role with Setanta Sports.

The Inverness job will be Butcher's first as a manager since an ill-fated spell at Brentford in 2007. Prior to that, he had a reasonably successful stint in charge of Motherwell, who he led to two successive top-six finishes and a Scottish League Cup final. Butcher's links to Scotland extend back to 1986 when he left Ipswich to join Rangers and played for the Glasgow club with distinction until the summer of 1990.

Malpas was Butcher's assistant at Motherwell before going on to inherit the reins in 2006. He lasted just one season before leaving Fir Park, going on to coach the Scotland Under-21s on a temporary basis. The 46-year-old left League One side Swindon in November after less than a year in charge.

The Scotland manager George Burley welcomed Butcher's return to domestic football, insisting it would not hamper his position with the Scottish Football Association.

"I'm delighted that Terry has been offered the job at Inverness Caledonian Thistle. It's a great opportunity for him to get back into club management.

"Terry is a great football man, and I know he's excited about the prospect of tackling day-to-day management again.

"His new role won't affect his position with the national side. We are both absolutely committed to Scotland and taking the country to the World Cup finals next year."

Butcher first entered management at Coventry City in November 1990 but was sacked after just 14 months in charge despite keeping the club in the old First Division. He then had a spell with Sunderland in 1993, this time lasting just eight months. It was eight years before he then re-entered management as assistant to Eric Black at Motherwell.