Chesterfield FC sack manager

Last May I doubted the wisdom of Chesterfield appointing as manager the person who had just overseen the relegation of Barnet.  My doubts were well-founded.  Chesterfield are in the relegation zone of the National League.  No surprise then that the club has sacked the manager.

Chesterfield FC - a tale of woe.

After two successive relegations hopes were high that Chesterfield would at the very least put up a good showing in the National League. Indeed promotion was anticipated by the bookies and more optimistic fans. I was not so sure, the new manager had just overseen the relegation of Barnet to the National League.

The season began well with three wins, then the rot set in.  Two draws and eight defeats leave Chesterfield above the relegation places on goal difference. Difficult times.  Tomorrow Chesterfield visit fellow strugglers Maidstone United.  Must secure at least a draw.  Defeat and who knows, the manager may be shown the door.

Chesterfield FC

Bottom of League 1 in 2017 and bottom of League 2 is 2018.  Not an enviable record.  So what does the club do?  It appoints a manager who was in charge of Barnet when it too was relegated from League 2 in 2018!

See:  https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/may/02/chesterfield-relegation-from-football-league

Doomed to the Conference!

Another defeat for Chesterfield at the hands of fellow-relegation contenders Grimsby Town leaves the Blues in a perilous position.  Relegation to the Conference is seemingly inevitable.  At least I shall have the opportunity next season to watch them play in Kent!

However the problem is that the downward spiral may continue.  A number of former League clubs play in Conference North.

What has gone wrong?

Chesterfield FC: doomed to non-league football?

Six points adrift from safety and matches running out it is increasingly likely Chesterfield will be relegated from the Football League for the first time in its history. What has brought about this sad state of affairs?  The first match I saw was in the 1950s when Leeds United played Chesterfield in Freddie Capel's benefit match. John Charles played for Leeds.

I lived within the sound of cheering from Saltergate when Chesterfield scored.  I saw Gordon Banks play and in the late 50's early 60's I remember seeing Powell, Clarke, Sears, Havenhand, Hutchinson, Blakey, Smallwood, Lewis, Frear, Rackstraw, Randall, Frost, Fenoughty, Kettleborough, Moss and Maddison.  I saw Neil Warnock play a few times.

Chesterfield only once challenged for promotion to the second tier and failed through being caught up in the Anglo-Scottish Cup, beating Rangers. The very idea that Chesterfield could lose its league status was anathema.  But it has come to pass and it is probable that Chesterfield will join the long list of clubs relegated to the Conference, or even worse a further relegation to Conference North.