Goalkeeping coach Lee Butler has joined Sunderland as Phil Parkinson makes his first backroom addition since taking over on Wearside.
Butler has worked under Parkinson since 2013, first at Bradford City and then at Bolton Wanderers, from where he joins the Black Cats .
The 53-year-old Sheffield-born coach had a 22-year playing career which began at Lincoln City, and went on to include spells at Boston United, Aston Villa, Hull City, Barnsley, Scunthorpe United, Wigan Athletic, Dunfermline Athletic, Halifax Town, Doncaster Rovers and Alfreton Town.
He retired from playing in 2008 at the end of a second spell at Halifax.
Butler takes over the role at Sunderland from Craig Samson, 12 months after Samson had called time on his playing career at St Mirren to join Jack Ross' coaching staff.
In a statement announcing Butler's arrival, Sunderland said: "SAFC would like to thank departing goalkeeping coach Craig Samson for his contribution and wish him the best of luck for the future."
Parkinson arrived a fortnight ago with his longtime assistant Steve Parkin, and has so far worked with Samson and Ross' first team coach John Potter.
But he had not ruled out bringing in his own backroom team, and Butler's move appears to be the first step.
When he moved from Bradford to Bolton, Parkinson took Butler, head of sports science Nick Allamby, and physio Matt Barrass with him to the University of Bolton Stadium.
