Bookies tip Danny Wilson as next Chesterfield FC manager

Former Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Wilson is the bookies' favourite for the Chesterfield job.Former Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Wilson is the bookies' favourite for the Chesterfield job.
Former Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Wilson is the bookies' favourite for the Chesterfield job.
Betting is already open on the next manager of Chesterfield FC – with Spireites legend Jack Lester and former Derby boss Nigel Clough among the early frontrunners.

Bookmakers started offering odds on the new man in the hotseat at the Proact Stadium within hours of Dean Saunders’ departure following Chesterfield’s 4-0 defeat at home to struggling Swindon Town.

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MATCH REPORT - Chesterfield 0 Swindon Town 4Saunders sacked as Chesterfield managerFans react to Saunders sackingSkybet – sponsors of the Football League – last night installed Clough as joint favourite, at 10/1, alongside former Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United manager Danny Wilson, who was sacked as Barnsley manager in February.

BetVictor installed Wilson as favourite last night, at 6/1, followed by former Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City manager Lee Clark, at 8/1.

Spireites legend Jack Lester has been linked with the vacant hotseat.Spireites legend Jack Lester has been linked with the vacant hotseat.
Spireites legend Jack Lester has been linked with the vacant hotseat.

Spireites legend Sean Dyche would be a popular choice to take over, having played more than 250 times for the club in the 1990s, but SkyBet’s odds of 66/1 reflect the fact he is unlikely to swap a push for promotion to the Premier League with Burnley for a club currently languishing 16th in League One, just four points above the relegation zone.

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Former Chesterfield boss and current Newport County manager John Sheridan – who led the Spireites to the League Two title in 2010-11 and to Johnstone’s Paint Trophy success at Wembley the following season - is 25/1 with both bookmakers.

Nigel Clough - SkyBet 10/1, BetVictor 12/1

The former Nottingham Forest, Liverpool and England striker - son of the legendary Forest and Derby boss Brian Clough - was sacked as Sheffield United manager in the summer after the club lost in the League One play-off semi-finals to Swindon. He also led the club to the League Cup semi-finals and the FA Cup semi-finals during his 19 months in charge.

Former Chesterfield star Sean Dyche is a longshot for the vacant manager's post.Former Chesterfield star Sean Dyche is a longshot for the vacant manager's post.
Former Chesterfield star Sean Dyche is a longshot for the vacant manager's post.

Prior to that, he spent five-and-a-half years in charge at Derby County, showing moderate annual improvement to finish mid-table in the Championship each year.

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Clough cut his managerial teeth at Burton Albion, guiding the club to promotion from the Northern Premier League through to the top of the Football Conference during his decade in the hotseat, before he left to take charge at Derby in January 2009,

Danny Wilson - SkyBet 10/1, BetVictor 6/1

The 55-year-old former Northern Ireland international played more than 100 times for Chesterfield in the early 1980s, before going on to represent, among others, Sheffield Wednesday and Luton Town.

Former Derby County and Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough is among the favourites for the Chesterfield job.Former Derby County and Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough is among the favourites for the Chesterfield job.
Former Derby County and Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough is among the favourites for the Chesterfield job.

He began his managerial career as player-manager at Barnsley, guiding the club to promotion to the Premier League in 1997.

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He went onto manage Wednesday, Bristol City, who he guided to the 2003 LDV Vans Trophy, Milton Keynes Dons, Hartlepool, who he led to promotion from fore League Two in 2007, Swindon Town and Sheffield United, before rejoining Barnsley in December 2013.

He was sacked by the club 14 months later after a poor run of results.

Ritchie Humphreys - SkyBet 10/1, BetVictor 16/1

Ritchie Humphreys is 16/1 to be the next Chesterfield FC manager.Ritchie Humphreys is 16/1 to be the next Chesterfield FC manager.
Ritchie Humphreys is 16/1 to be the next Chesterfield FC manager.

Current Spireites player Humphreys triggered a one-year extension to his contract in the summer after making 25 appearances last season, although he has only featured once for Chesterfield this season.

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His sole appearance came as a substitute at home to Wigan in early September, coming on just after the visitors scored to make it 2-1 to Chesterfield with eight minutes left - before Wigan scored twice more to complete an unlikely comeback and snatch victory.

Humphreys, who celebrates his 38th birthday on Monday, November 30, is the current chairman of footballers’ union, the PFA.

He came through the ranks at Sheffield Wednesday, but joined Chesterfield in July 2013, after being released by Hartlepool, where he made more than 500 appearances during 12 years with the club.

Jack Lester - SkyBet 12/1, BetVictor 12/1

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The Sheffield-born striker scored 94 goals during a six-year spell with Chesterfield, putting him fourth in the club’s all-time record goalscorer list behind Ernie Moss, George Smith and Kevin Randall and earning himself legendary status among the Spireites fans.

The 40-year-old came through the ranks at Grimsby Town, before spells at Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United. He joined the Spireites in June 2007, following his release from Forest, winning the League Two PFA fans’ player of the year award at the end of his first season with the club.

He retired at the end of the 2012-13 season, marking his farewell appearance, against Exeter City, with two goals, before the club retired Jack’s number 14 shirt in his honour.

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Since retiring, Jack has been studying for his coaching badges, He is currently manager of Nottingham Forest under-18s.

Lee Clark - SkyBet 16/1, BetVictor 8/1

The former Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City manager has been out of work since resigning as Blackpool in the summer.

As a player, the midfielder made more than 400 appearances across spells at Newcastle United, Sunderland and Fulham.

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He was appointed first-team coach at Newcastle while still a player, continuing in the role after his retirement from playing in 2007.

The 43-year-old was later assistant manager at Norwich City, before landing his first crack at the top job at Huddersfield in December 2008.

He guided the club to the League One play-offs twice, as well as a 43-game unbeaten run, before he was sacked in February 2012.

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Clark joined Birmingham four months’ later, but was sacked in October 2014, with Birmingham having won only one League home game in more than a year,

He took over at Blackpool just 10 days later, but quit in the summer after their relegation from the Championship, having won just three games out of 33 under Clark.

Phil Neville - SkyBet 20/1, BetVictor 25/1

Neville won 59 caps for England during a 19-year top-flight playing career which included more than 250 appearances for both Manchester United and Everton, as well as six Premier League titles, three FA Cup victories and one Champions League win.

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Since retiring, the 38-year-old has worked as first-team coach at Manchester United and, briefly, caretaker manager of Salford City, a club he part-owns with several of his former United team-mates, including older brother Gary.

Neville was appointed assistant manager of Spanish side Valencia in July.

SkyBet’s full list

Nigel Clough 10/1

Danny Wilson 10/1

Ritchie Humphreys 11/1

Jack Lester 12/1

Brian Deane 12/1

Lee Clark 16/1

Paul Dickov 16/1

Leam Richardson 16/1

Chris Turner 16/1

Phil Neville 20/1

Graham Alexander 20/1

Alan Irvine 20/1

Ronnie Moore 25/1

Chris Powell 25/1

Brian McDermott 25/1

Ian Evatt 25/1

John Sheridan 25/1

Nicky Law 33/1

Stuart Pearce 33/1

John Carver 40/1

Kevin Davies 50/1

Sean Dyche 66/1

BetVictor’s full list

Danny Wilson 6/1

Lee Clark 8/1

Mark Cooper 8/1

Jack Lester 12/1

Leam Richardson 12/1

Nigel Clough 12/1

Malky Mackay 12/1

Chris Powell 12/1

Briane Deane 14/1

Ritchie Humphreys 16/1

Stuart Gray 16/1

Paul Dickov 16/1

Paul Ince 20/1

Chris Turner 20/1

Steve Lomas 20/1

Ian Holloway 20/1

Brian McDermott 20/1

Stuart McCall 20/1

Paul Jewell 20/1

John Sheridan 25/1

Richard Money 25/1

Dennis Wise 25/1

Graham Alexander 25/1

Phil Neville 25/1

Alan Irvine 25/1

Ian Evatt 25/1

Ronnie Moore 25/1

Russ Wilcox 25/1

Kevin Davies 33/1

Stuart Pearce 33/1

Tim Sherwood 33/1

Paolo Di Canio 33/1

James Beattie 33/1

Nicky Law 33/1

Terry Butcher 33/1

Uwe Rosler 33/1

Micky Adams 33/1

John Carver 40/1

Odds correct at the time of writing.