Further doubt has been cast over Milan Butterfield’s Chesterfield future, with chairman Mike Goodwin confirming the club are working hard to move some players on.

Despite joining the Vanarama National League club on a free transfer from Kidderminster Harriers only five months ago, the Bermuda midfielder was deemed surplus to requirements by manager James Rowe when he replaced the sacked John Pemberton as manager in November — and subsequently spent a month on loan at National League North outfit Guiseley, returning this week.

However, prospects of featuring in Rowe’s plans continue to look ominous for the 22-year-old with the manager confirming Butterfield’s future is being analysed, while Goodwin has come out and publicly stated the club are actively looking to reduce their squad.

Another loan move could be on the cards imminently. However, with nine new signings arriving since Rowe’s appointment — including five midfielders — Butterfield’s long-term future at the club appears under genuine threat.

“We have been trying to move some players out who are not in the manager’s thoughts,” Goodwin said, speaking on the club’s official podcast. “We always said John Pemberton had got money before he left us and the new manager had that up front, which was a small amount of cash for him to deal with, but on the proviso that should he wish to extend that, then there would have to be some reciprocal arrangements with players leaving the club.

“Certainly the work and the business he [Rowe] has done so far has been really good. There have been a number of players who have come in on greatly reduced salaries in terms of some of the players that we have already got, so what we are trying to do is continue to do that and reduce the cost of the squad.

“It is difficult at this moment in time because not a lot of people are actually signing players on during this window.

“There is a bit of uncertainty about the continuation of this season, so we are finding it difficult to do that, but that is our aim.

“The cost of the squad will not increase and players will have to leave to balance that up, and the manager knows that.”

To compound matters for Butterfield, Goodwin also revealed that he expects further additions, reinforcing the need for some players to depart to make space in the existing squad.

“I am quite sure that the manager has not finished with his reshaping of the squad at this point in time,” he added. “I am sure there are one or two more.”