Decisions close on the futures of Chesterfield's summer trialists
Decisions on the group of trialists who have featured for Chesterfield in pre-season are imminent.
The management team have taken a look at the players over the course of three warm-up games against Clay Cross Town, Sheffield United and Halifax Town.
It would seem likely the club will be minded to keep at least one of them ahead of their short summer training camp in Ireland next week.
“It is still very fresh so we’ll have a chat about the trialists as a staff,” assistant manager Danny Webb told the Derbyshire Times soon after the final whistle at The Shay.
"Whether we sign them or not, they have given their all. They have done themselves no harm whatsoever.
"The decisions will be in the next couple of days. They won’t drag on for another week, put it that way.”
The trialists aren’t the only players on the radar as manager Paul Cook and his staff look to piece together a squad that lift Chesterfield from two-time League Two play-off candidates to automatic promotion winners.
Speaking after last Saturday’s goalless draw against Sheffield United, Webb said there were one or two positions where the club was looking to strengthen and that “the wheels are always turning”.
Of the six players signed so far, three are defenders, one is a winger, another is a defensive midfielder and only one, Ruel Sitiriou, an out-and-out striker.
Chesterfield also have to cover for injuries mindful that forward Will Dickson (knee) and centre-back Malik Owolabi-Belewu (shoulder) have already been ruled out for a couple of a months and will miss the start of the season.
Of the other players who have been in the treatment room, there is still recovery time for the likes of Dylan Duffy, Kyle McFadzean and Ryan Stirk before the action starts for real against Fleetwood Town in the League Cup on August 8.
In the meantime the first team squad are heading back to the training ground following the commendable draw with Sheffield United and an off-colour showing in the loss at National League Halifax.
"Friendly or not, the gaffer hasn’t minced his words about that,” added Webb. “We want to go the extra step and win promotion and if you iron things out now it saves you ironing them out come October or November.”