Grimsby Town: Walsall transfer promised so much, but delivered very little | OneFootball

When experienced striker Martin Butler joined Grimsby in 2007, hopes were high. However, it didn't work out, with his daily commute causing issues.

When legendary Grimsby Town manager Alan Buckley signed experienced goalscorer Martin Butler in 2007, supporters were hopeful that the former Cambridge United man could provide a clinical edge to a side that was often neat and tidy in possession, but lacking in front of goal.

However, the striker, who initially joined on loan from Walsall before making the move permanent a few months later, was barely available for selection for one reason or another, with his daily commute to training proving problematic in terms of fitness.

Butler, who was prolific throughout the EFL for the likes of Reading, Rotherham United, and the U's, had just turned 33-years-old when he headed to Blundell Park, with Buckley hoping his nous and guile would be beneficial to the likes of Danny North and Andy Taylor, two young strikers who had come through the ranks with the Mariners and had made a breakthrough into the first-team picture.

Having come through the youth system at Walsall, the striker really ignited his career when moving to the Abbey Stadium in 1997, going on to score 18 goals, impressing the scouts of then-third-tier Reading enough for the Royals to pay a substantial fee to acquire Butler's services in 2000.

The goals continued to flow in Berkshire, where the attacker helped fire a rapidly improving Reading side up to what is now the Championship in 2002. A year later, however, the 29-year-old moved on once more, joining Rotherham United, for whom he kept up his ratio of approximately a goal every three matches over the next three years.

A return to boyhood club Walsall in 2006 started off reasonably enough, with Butler scoring 11 goals in 44 games before Buckley and Grimsby came calling in 2007.

Butler's 350-mile daily round trip was blamed for his Mariners' failure

On paper, it looked a shrewd addition for a Grimsby side full of youthful endeavour in attacking areas, but, perhaps, lacking that experience and knowledge when it counted.

Butler had succeeded at higher levels throughout his career, and seemed to have the physical profile to suit League Two football at this stage in his career, and after an initial loan spell, he signed a two-and-a-half-year permanent deal in January 2008.

However, the striker was based in the Midlands city of Worcester, and did not want to relocate at such a late stage in his career. This meant a very long daily commute to training, something that affected his availability due to it causing a back problem.

While the seasoned forward looked a useful option when he did turn out in the black and white stripes, those appearances were far too fleeting to make a real impact, with manager Buckley quickly losing faith and patience in the forward's lack of durability.

An experienced player with a good record further up the pyramid, Butler would likely have been an expensive acquisition, but it turned out to be money wasted as the striker played just 27 games for the club, scoring six goals in the process.

Butler released by Mike Newell in 2008

As time went by, Buckley was replaced in the Mariners' dugout by Mike Newell, who quickly took the decision to release Butler from his contract, just nine months into a 30-month contract.

Newell would go on to be an abject failure at Blundell Park, but this particular decision made sense, as Butler was offering little to a struggling Grimsby side on a downward trajectory.

A few months on from his departure, the striker joined non-league Burton Albion, though his stay was short-lived, and he joined local side Worcester City that summer, before quickly retiring.