Belles interim manager leaps to defence of under fire Andy Butler

Buxton made his feelings known on social media moments after Saturday’s embarrassing 4-1 home defeat to Wigan Athletic.

Rovers have now lost four on the bounce and taken just two points from eight games following victories against Portsmouth and Plymouth Argyle in Butler’s first two games in charge.

Butler himself questioned the attitude of Rovers’ players following another abject display against the Latics.

And Buxton tweeted: "You can set a team up to play all you want but if players don’t have the work rate, desire, hunger to win or be hard to beat.

"It’s about self pride if you can come off a pitch hold your hands and say I gave 100% then fair enough if not your s****ing on someone.”

Buxton got a taste of Rovers’ first team environment earlier in the season when, with Darren Moore, Jamie Smith and Paul Gerrard all self-isolating, he assisted Butler for cup games against FC United of Manchester and Wolves U21s.

The pair joined forces in January last year to help Belles get back on an upward keel in FAWNL Division One Midlands.

Ex-Scarborough and Halifax goalkeeper Buxton has since taken temporary charge of the women’s team in Butler’s absence.

Butler will remain in charge of Rovers for the remainder of this season but his hopes of landing the job on a permanent basis have taken a huge hit.

Rovers claimed one point from the final five games of Moore’s reign but, prior to that, had won ten out of 12 games to position themselves as possible automatic promotion contenders.

They now sit 11th in League One, six points adrift of the play-off positions.