Chesterfield manager John Pemberton was let down by players as he departs Spireites

He did not emerge to speak to the media until 10.30pm. His unusual late appearance did make you wonder whether he had decided to walk away.

After the Spireites’ 3-2 defeat to Altrincham, their sixth in eight games this season, leaving them third bottom of the National League, Pemberton said he took ‘full responsibility’ for the results and that the ‘buck stops with me’.

Perhaps there was a little hint at what was to follow the next day when he said: “I have to sit down and think about where it is going.”

My thoughts? I think he did an excellent job in saving Town from relegation last season and that should not be forgotten. They were doomed under John Sheridan and heading for the National League North. He arrived in January and was a breath of fresh air as he galvanised the players to win five and draw two of his nine games in charge before the campaign was curtailed. Had it not been ended so abruptly, I think Chesterfield would have stayed up anyway because they had momentum.

People will question his summer recruitment, although I don’t agree with the claim he re-signed the ‘whole’ of last season’s failing squad. There was no harm in keeping youngsters Jamie Sharman, Luke Rawson and Regan Hutchinson on low wages. Tom Denton divides opinion but he scored six goals in his first six games and most teams in the division would be happy to have a threat like him. He lost out on targets to other clubs due to the takeover dragging on and at one point he only had nine players – who took up a big chunk of the budget - on the books so his hands were tied. Did he panic? Perhaps.

My opinion is that Pemberton has been let down by this group of players. I am not fully convinced much will change when a new manager is appointed. There will probably be an initial upturn in results that you get with a new boss, but unless four or five new additions come in I would be worried that it will return to what we are seeing now.

For me, Pemberton leaves the club in a better position than when he took over. People may look at the league table and question that view, but I stand by it. For a start they are playing in a higher league than what they would have been had he not come in and the balance of the squad is much healthier than the top-heavy mess he inherited.

People behind the scenes say Pemberton is as hard-working as they have seen and a decent bloke has lost his job which is sad but also part of football. During the first lockdown he let me ring him every Tuesday and I will always be thankful for that.

It has been a case of fine margins with all six defeats this season by the odd goal. They were leading in four of them and he has paid the price for some shoddy defending.