Geoff Butler has been sacked as manager of Dr Martens Premier Division outfit Weymouth.

The former Salisbury City boss was fired along with his Southampton-based assistant Ricky Haysom following David Laws' testimonial game against Yeovil Town on Wednesday night.

Butler, who had a year to run on his contract at the Wessex Stadium, kept the Terras afloat in the Dr Martens elite under difficult circumstances after taking up the reins last summer.

But new chairman Ian Ridley, whose consortium includes former Portsmouth boss Steve Claridge, has announced ambitious plans to take the club into the Football League within five years and has already appointed ex-England and Arsenal defender Tony Adams as a football consultant.

Ridley told the Dorset Echo: "Geoff kept us in this league and gave us a platform to build on but, in all honesty, I didn't feel he was the man to lead us forward. Naturally, he disagreed with me. He's had a long time in non-league football, first at Salisbury and now at Weymouth working on a tight budget and never able to do more than survive.

"I think he will be a valuable acquisition for a club that is in the position we were in a year ago, but now I need a man with an experience of kicking on.

"It was with a slightly heavy heart that I did it because since I've got to know Geoff personally, I've warmed to him. He's a nice man, but I had to take a professional decision in the interests of Weymouth FC and I can't let my heart rule my head now."

Shrewton-based Butler, who was forced to work on a tiny budget after the Dorset club revealed massive debts last summer, said he was leaving with his head held high.