Football Season Guide

The 2016/17 season was one to forget for the Spireites as they finished bottom of the League One table and were relegated back to League Two. The club are in desperate need for some stability following turmoil both on and off the pitch. The financial situation remains uncertain and won’t help as they look to bounce straight back from relegation at the first attempt. It is likely to have been a factor during the close season as they decided to stick with manager Gary Caldwell who has won just 2 of his 19 games in charge so far. They have given him a chance to rebuild his squad over the summer and several influential players have left including the midfield trio of Dan Gardner, Jay O’Shea and Jon Nolan, who will all be playing in League One again next season. Controversial former Welsh striker Ched Evans has also left to re-join Sheffield United and some of the money from that undisclosed fee was re-invested in the likes of striker Gozie Ugwu who has signed from Woking. He is just one of several new additions Caldwell has made and they include striker Chris O’Grady, which appears to be something of a coup having arrived on a free transfer from Championship title winners Brighton and Hove Albion. Goalkeeper Joe Anyon, defender Scott Wiseman and midfielder Jak McCourt were all playing in League One last season and they will supplement the likes of captain Sam Hird. Caldwell will be pleased to have kept hold of experienced defender Ian Evatt and striker Kristian Dennis, last season’s leading goalscorer. The loss of defender Jerome Binnom-Williams, a summer capture from Peterborough United, for three months due to an ankle injury is a blow. Given the turmoil at the club, a season of consolidation would be no bad thing whilst it would also enable Caldwell to prove his managerial credentials.