This is just me think out loud really, so don't read anything into it, but what about Matt Oakley from Leicester? I think he's currently on loan at Exeter...why? I don't know, because at 34 I reckon I he could still do a job in the Championship and help fill the void left by Butterfield. He's a real classy midfielder who can get things going in the middle of park and bring some more experience to the club. Obviously, transfer fee and wages would come into play, but I think someone like him would be a great signing for us at this stage of the season.
I'm thinking realistically to be honest mate. Someone such as Oakley, who was a first team regular at Leicester until last season and who was linked with Derby at the beginning of this, could come in and do a job for us. It was only a thought - it's not actually going to happen. The fact of the matter is, Matt Oakley would still do a damn good job in the Championship, and the fact that he is out on loan at Exeter is irrelevent. I can only imagine it's down to injury, because you don't lose talent and class that quickly.
He's the type of player that would let his head do the talking and give us that little something extra in the middle of the park. It was like when we brought Kevin Richardson in, or Robbie Van Der Laan. Players that on the surface, were branded 'past their best' but who let their heads do the talking and who no doubt passed on some invaluable experience and knowledge.