IT was a moment of madness from defender Dan Butler that ultimately sealed Warren Feeney’s fate.

The left-back pulled the shirt of substitute Tom Balarinwa in the box with just two minutes remaining at Grimsby Town last night and Omar Bogle scored from the spot to condemn Newport County AFC to a fifth defeat of the season.

It left the Exiles bottom of League Two and the board of directors opted to part company with Feeney this morning.

The Northern Irishman’s record of just one win in the last 22 matches of his reign means the decision was no surprise but a 0-0 draw at Blundell Park would likely have seen him survive until Saturday’s home clash with Stevenage at least.

Watch the incident here... https://youtu.be/7qxd4n8kMcg

Speaking after the game and before he was sacked, Feeney told the Argus: “We’re away from home and I thought the boys put a hell of a shift in for me and for the club.

“But to be done by that is sickening. Players have got to retain information.

“He [Butler] gave a free-kick away on Saturday and I had a chat with him.

“And tonight I just don’t know what was going through his head. I just can’t explain it.

“I had to get the players lifted up after Saturday and I thought they were outstanding until that unbelievable mistake.”

Asked if he planned to drop Butler for the Stevenage game, Feeney added: “I’ve said to him [Butler] ‘you’ve got to take responsibility’ not mope around.

“In my day when I played if you made a mistake like that one of the centre-halves would have put you through the wall straight away when you went into the changing room.

“It’s unacceptable but the kid’s got to learn.

“He’s in the big league now. He’s had 40 games for Portsmouth and he dropped down to non-league.

“I’m not picking on him but I can’t forgive errors like that.

“He’s a defender and he’s got to defend.

“I feel sorry for the players because they put in a fantastic shift.

“He puts the ball in the stand in the 88th minute [and there’s no problem] but kids are brought up now not to defend in these academies.

“And there’s a primary example tonight and on Saturday.

“You’ve got to handle it. You’re in the big boys’ league now and you’ve got to face it.

“You’ve got to accept it and move on and be a better player because of it.”

Butler has the chance to put things right at Rodney Parade on Saturday but Feeney is now part of the club’s history.