Butler aims to outwit former boss Adkins

IF Andy Butler learned one thing from his time at former club Scunthorpe United under Nigel Adkins, it was the value of positive thinking.

The pair meet today as playoff rivals, with Butler’s Rovers side assigned with getting back into the top six after an alarming nosedive and Adkins’s Charlton being one of several clubs trying to gatecrash their way into it.

It has been a bittersweet first month in interim charge for Butler, who admits that it will be surreal trying to outwit someone he knows well and speaks to regularly in Adkins.

But it is all part of a manager’s life and Butler’s positive assertion that his side have not become a ‘bad team overnight’ after a five-match winless run would be vindicated with a good result at Adkins’s expense today.

He said: “I spoke to Nigel before he got the Charlton job and we had a quick chat about stepping into management and he helped me through that – and then all of a sudden, Nigel becomes manager of Charlton.

“We have not spoken since, but I am sure we will have a good chat afterwards. I am looking forward to it. It is a bit surreal managing a team against one of my former managers, but it is another experience to tick off the table.”

Butler remains hopeful that key winger Josh Sims could return for the final weeks of the season after going back to parent club Southampton for treatment on a leg injury.

Last six games: Doncaster WLDLDL; Charlton WDWDWD.

Referee: M Edwards (Tyne & Wear).

Last time: Doncaster 1 Charlton 2, May 12, 2019; League One play-offs.