November 2006. After returning to his parent club, he was released from his contract with Leeds leaving under poor terms with Dennis Wise, and two days later signed a permanent contract with the Dons. Butler failed to complete the season with the MK Dons though, leaving in March 2007 after only nine further appearances. He joined Chester City four months later and quickly struck up a strong central defensive partnership with Paul Linwood, later combining playing duties with a role on the coaching staff. But he was to rarely feature after April 2008, he fell out with Chester's manager after a poor performance against his former club Leeds United in the League Cup where Butler was substituted at half time, He never played for the club again and on 1 February 2009 he agreed a deal to leave Chester and become a free agent as he continued working towards completing his coaching qualifications. International career Butler made his only appearance for the Republic of Ireland (for whom he is often incorrectly stated as having qualified via his Irish wife, when he in fact qualified through his step-father's father who was from Dublin), in a friendly against the Czech Republic on 23 February 2000. He was pitted against the big Czech striker Jan Koller, but by half-time Ireland were 2–0 down thanks to two Koller goals. Butler was substituted at half-time and Ireland went on to win the game 3–2. Butler's international career is generally referred to in derisive terms by Irish supporters and he is often nominated in fans "worst ever Ireland XI's". Personal life In September 2010, Butler was arrested for allegedly assaulting a fellow guest at a charity event at Mere Golf Club in Cheshire. Butler pleaded guilty to the assault charges in May 2011 and was sentenced to 120 hours community service. Honours Bury Football League Second Division: 1996–97 Sunderland Football League First Division: 1998–99 Wolverhampton Wanderers Football League First Division play-offs: 2003 Individual PFA Team of the Year: 1998–99 First Division See also List of Republic of Ireland international footballers born outside the Republic of Ireland References External links 1972 births Living people People from Moston, Manchester 20th-century Anglo-Irish people Republic of Ireland association footballers Republic of Ireland international footballers Association football central defenders Premier League players English Football League players Rochdale A.F.C. players Bury F.C. players Sunderland A.F.C. players Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players Leeds United