WARRINGTON Rylands have seen another key member of their side leave the club.

Defender James Butler – a pivotal figure in the heart of the Blues defence as they reached the Northern Premier League Premier Division play-offs – has opted for a move higher up the pyramid.

He has joined Marine – the team who ended Rylands’ play-off campaign at the semi-final stage before winning their promotion final against Macclesfield – for what has been announced as “an undisclosed fee.”

The towering centre-half had been on a list of players confirmed as being retained by the Gorsey Lane outfit last month, but he will now take up the challenge of playing in the National League North.

He joins last season’s leading scorer Mo Touray in stepping up a league after the forward moved to Chorley.

After joining from Mickleover last summer, Butler made 38 appearances in all competitions for a Rylands side that had the division’s best defensive record, conceding just 42 goals in 40 league matches.