Lee Butler’s arrival as City’s new goalkeeping coach has brought “closure” after his sudden axe from Doncaster.

The 47-year-old was appointed this week for the season by Phil Parkinson – only a fortnight after finding him surplus to requirements at the Champion-ship new boys.

Butler had spent four years with Rovers and was a key member of the coaching staff in their promotion to the second tier. But new boss Paul Dickov replaced him with Paul Gerrard just days before pre-season began.

Butler admitted he never saw his Doncaster departure coming.

He said: “Without wanting to tap myself on the back too much, I thought I’d done a good job last year.

“As well as the goalkeeping, I did the set-pieces, helped out with the kit man and organised away trips. When we won the league, I felt like I played a massive part.

“But I didn’t hear a thing when he got appointed. There was no phone call and I started to wonder what was going on.

“It got to three days before we were due to go back training and I’d still heard nothing, so I thought everything must be all right.

“But then he rang me up for the first time and just said he wanted to bring in his own man. And that was it.

“People will say that’s football and it happens but it did leave a bit of a sour taste.

“To be fair to Doncaster, they sorted out the severance package really professionally and I had a nice letter from (chairman) John Ryan. Then with me starting at Bradford so soon has brought some kind of closure.”

Butler was not short of offers. Southend, Hartlepool and Plymouth were all keen to bring him in and there was also the opportunity to work with Sheffield Wednesday’s academy.

But a chat with assistant boss Steve Parkin convinced the former Halifax keeper that a return to West Yorkshire was the best move.

Butler added: “It’s great really. I was only out of work for two weeks and now I’m jumping into a job as good as this.

“Bradford are a club on the up. I’ve only just got here but you can see everyone’s buzzing.

“The staff are quite impressive. There aren’t many of them but they are all committed and hard working.

“There’s a strong character about the club. Speaking to the fitness coach, he has told me the squad are an honest bunch and you can always trust them to dig in.”

Phil Parkinson is still looking for a second keeper to compete with Jon McLaughlin and is likely to take a trialist on tour to Ireland.

McLaughlin has not been confirmed as the No 1 by the City boss but Butler’s first impressions of the keeper are good.

He said: “I saw him before at Sheffield United in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy when Bradford won on penalties and remember being quite impressed with him that night.

“I’ve only just started working with him but he looks a good athlete, enthusiastic with the right attitude.”