Breckin: Why I decided to return to Chesterfield
The capture of Ian Breckin is a feather in John Sheridan's cap.
Breckin, the consumate central defender, was Nottingham Forest's captain last season and played a major role in their battle for Championship survival.
Although Forest decided not to renew the 33-year-old player's contract, he was a popular figure at the City Ground and received a standing ovation from supporters at the end of his final game.
His availability sparked considerable interest and Sheridan's former club Oldham Athletic and Walsall led the charge of League One clubs chasing Breckin's signature.
Rotherham United, the bookies favourites for the League Two title, also turned their focus on him.
Breckin was born in Rotherham, made his league debut for his home town club, and the lure of returning to his roots must have been strong.
But Breckin plumped for Chesterfield, the team he played for from 1997 until 2002 where he was the much-admired skipper who led the Spireites to promotion in the 2000/01 season.
News of Breckin's return to Saltergate seaped out when he turned down a transfer to Conference champions Burton Albion.
Breckin has shed light on why he decided the move back to the Spireites was the right one for him.
''There was a lot of interest but it was Chesterfield that caught my eye.
''And it was a combination of factors that attracted me.
''I'd been here before and enjoyed success and they had a new manager in John Sheridan who impressed me.
''Next season will be the final year at Saltergate before a move to a new ground and they offered me a two-year contract.
''The new ground will give the club a fantastic start and I wanted to be part of that.''
Breckin believes that the construction of the new stadium has placed Chesterfield at the beginning of a new era.
''I'm very glad to be back at Saltergate. The fans have had a bit of an up and down time but the future looks really positive. The future looks bright
''Chesterfield have been in League Two for the past couple of season but I hope I can play my part in gaining promotion.
''I have always considered Chesterfield a League One club if not a bit higher,'' he said.
Breckin is certainly captain material, but that position is yet to be considered.
''I was the skipper at Forest but that aspect has not been discussed with the gaffer. He will decide who is going to be captain in pre-season,'' he said.
Sheridan was delighted that Breckin, his first signing, has come on board.
He said: "I am really pleased to sign a player with great experience who has a hunger to help us get out of League Two.
''We have done well to get him as a number of other clubs were competing for his signature."
As the build-up to the big kick off gets under way, Sheridan will have to decide which player he will partner with Breckin in the centre of the team's defence.
Lapses in that department were glaring last term and the new man will want to correct the problem as the earliest possible opportunity.
Danny Hall, formerly a junior with Sheridan at Oldham, emerged as an automatic choice in that position while former Wales defender Rob Page (34) came to Chesterfield last summer to help shore up an already leak defence.
There is no doubting Page's experience – he played 41 times for his country – and he was given the captain's arm band at Saltergate.
But he never settled into his role and after a particularly disappointing performance in a 4-2 home defeat against Macclesfield in December he played never appeared again for the first team.
Aussie defender Aaron Downes, who is sidelined until January following a knee operation, is out of Sheridan's equation until the second half of the season but veteran Kevin Austin (36) is another option in central defence.
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Weather for Chesterfield
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light sleet
Temperature: 1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
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