GUY BUTTERS spoke for the first time today of the reasons behind his shock transfer request which has stunned Gillingham. The centre-back, who is out of contract at the season's end, asked for a move in the hope of finding another club well in advance of next summer.

Player-manager Andy Hessenthaler admitted after dropping Butters for last Saturday's goalless draw at Crewe that the player had been deeply disappointed. But the written request came as a bombshell.

Butters recently fought his way back into the side following a long-term knee injury sustained at Bournemouth on January 6. He returned for the first time this season in the Worthington Cup tie against Southampton and held his place until the 4-1 defeat by Manchester City after which he was dropped.

Today, he insisted his decision was not a knee-jerk reaction.

He explained: "I sat down with my wife Rachel and talked everything through. In an ideal world this wouldn't be happening because I love being at Gillingham and love playing for the club.

"But my contract is up at the end of the season and no fresh offer has been forthcoming. So I said to the gaffer that perhaps it's best that I go in the shop window.

"With a wife and two young children to think about, security is everything and the gaffer understands that. I recently turned 32 so I can't afford to be sitting around and I don't want to get caught up in the mad scramble of players chasing clubs at the end of the season. I would stress that everything with the club has been amicable."