FORMER Gillingham manager Peter Taylor has appointed his old Priestfield No 2 Steve Butler as assistant at Hull and provoked a furious tirade from Maidstone United chairman Paul Bowden-Brown.

The Stones chairman accused Division 3 Hull of discourtesy after alleging they had failed to make an official approach for Butler who was the club's £40,000 a year director of football and first team striker in the Go Travel Kent League.

Butler, 40, was not on a contract so Maidstone will not receive a penny in compensation. Mr Bowden-Brown told the club's official website: "It's another occasion where the big boys are taking advantage of smaller clubs.

"My grievance is not with Steve Butler but with Hull City who completely by-passed me to talk to him and offer him a deal.

"As a result we have now lost a director of football and a centre-forward with no compensation. It's another kick in the teeth for me having gone to a great deal of personal expenditure to bring him to the club."

Taylor succeeded Jan Molby at Hull last week. Butler has agreed a three-year contract.