Brian Dutton

Brian Dutton (born 12 April 1985) is an English professional football coach and former player who is currently manager of Salisbury.

In a 16-year-long playing career, Dutton was a versatile player who was often fielded in a variety of positions in defence, midfield and attack.

Apart from a short spell in the Third Division with Cambridge United he spent his entire career playing non-league football, most notably for Salisbury City where he earned two promotions as club captain.

After retiring as a player he went into coaching at Bristol Rovers, joining up with former Salisbury City manager Darrell Clarke.

He had just broken into Pickering's first team when he was spotted by a Cambridge United scout and was invited for a trial in November 2003.

He only played for 30 minutes but was offered a contract on the spot.

Here he settled into a midfield role.

Dutton was released by Cambridge and returned to Pickering Town for the start of the 2004–05 season.

Brian Dutton was invited to go on trial with Weymouth manager Steve Johnson signing Dutton, who had decided he wanted to return to the game.

He then had his contract extended for another year during which he scored the winning goal in the local derby with Dorchester Town.

Dutton was offered a new contract by the club at the end of the 2005–06 season but turned it down and was released.

Dutton started the 2006–07 with Eastleigh but an injury kept out of the game for three months.

He left at the end of the 2006–07 season and went on trial with York City.

Dutton rejoined Weymouth in January 2007.

He joined Mangotsfield United to keep match fitness and signed for Dorchester Town in September 2007.

He left the club in October.

In March 2008 he re-signed for Pickering Town.

He joined Salisbury City in the Conference National on a one-year contract in August 2008 after a successful trial spell.

After only one year and 27 appearances, he moved to Conference North side Harrogate Town on 23 July 2009.

After spending half a season at Harrogate Town, he was signed by Northwich Victoria until the end of the 2009–10 season.

At the end of the season Brian was offered an improved contract from Northwich but decided to turn it down and to rejoin his former teammate, and now manager, Darrell Clarke, at Salisbury City.

He became a utility player for the club, playing in a variety of places all over the pitch, before featuring on a regular basis at centre back – making the position his own.

After the temporary departure of captain Chris Giles, manager Darrell Clarke gave the honour of club captain to Dutton, who led Salisbury to the Conference South after a play-off final victory against Hednesford Town on penalties.

He was rewarded with a new contract and club captaincy full-time and went on to help Salisbury to yet another promotion, once again via the playoffs, the final this time was against Chris Kinnear's Dover Athletic.

Salisbury won the final in extra time, which meant Salisbury had earned promotion to the Conference National, the league they had been thrown out of three seasons earlier and Dutton had managed two promotions in the two seasons he was captain at the club.

In June 2014, Dutton left Salisbury City to sign for Havant & Waterlooville.

Dutton signed for Eastbourne Borough on 6 July 2016.

He originally worked with the U21 squad and focused on player recruitment before being promoted to first team duties in December 2017.

In February 2017, Dutton re-joined Salisbury under new manager Steve Claridge.

Alongside playing he worked towards his coaching badges, earning a UEFA A Licence and set up Salisbury soccer schools, providing coaching to children throughout Wiltshire and Hampshire.

In March 2017, Dutton was appointed under-23 assistant coach and overseas scout at League One club Bristol Rovers.

The 2017–18 season saw Dutton promoted to first team duties in late December 2017, standing in for long-time first team coach Steve Yates.

The attacking set piece conversion rate improved vastly in comparison to the 2017–18 season, with Bristol Rovers doubling their conversion rate from corners after only 16 games of the season.

The 2018–19 season saw Dutton continue with his first team duties, mainly focussing on attacking set pieces.

He followed Clarke to Walsall in the summer of 2019 as his assistant manager, before taking over as interim head coach himself when Clarke left the club in February 2021.

After the season was concluded, Walsall parted ways with Dutton in May 2021.

Born in Malton, North Yorkshire, Dutton played for his local team Brooklyn as a child, and was invited to join the Scarborough School of Excellence.

He also had a trial with Swindon Town.

He joined his first senior side, Pickering Town, at the age of 16.

He originally played as a striker but was also capable of dropping back into midfield.