Chesterfield need experience - now is not the time to take a risk on an unproven manager

The club is searching for its eighth permanent boss since Paul Cook left in 2015 and the community trust is already having to make its second managerial appointment after just three months in charge.

Personally, I think experience and knowledge of the National League is the route they need to take.

They need a steady, safe pair of hands who can keep them in the division and get them pointing in the right direction ready for next year’s clear-out with every player out of contract.

In my opinion, the Spireites are not in a position to take a risk and appoint a young and unproven manager.

Yes, in the long-term an up and coming coach with new and fresh ideas, who wants to play attacking and expansive football, would be great, but the current squad, in my opinion, is not capable of it.

I think the time for a younger manager is further down the line when there is not as big a risk of relegation and when that person will be able to bring in several new players to suit his style of play.

I think if the threat of relegation was not as real as it is, then I would be more open to taking a chance on someone but I honestly don’t think that would be wise at this stage.

The Blues need someone who can hit the ground running, someone who already knows the league and can bring in players he can trust and rely on to do a job at this level.

Looking at the list of managers who Chesterfield could realistically attract, I think Tim Flowers or Paul Hurst would be up there.

Flowers guided Solihull Moors to second in the National League in 2018, while Hurst won promotion through the play-offs with Grimsby Town in 2016.

Applications for the job are still coming in and I am led to believe that interviews will take place next week with the hope of making an appointment ahead of three crucial games against teams who are down there with Town in Weymouth, Aldershot and Dover.

It is a very important appointment for the trust and if it does a bit longer, but they get the right man, then I think everyone will be happy.