Gavin Gunning: 'Lure of working with James Rowe again was pivotal in my move to Chesterfield'

The 30-year-old, who scored his first goal for the club in the win against Notts County on Saturday, played under Rowe at Gloucester City this season before making the move to the Technique Stadium.

Nicknamed ‘Mad Gav’ for his big personality, the versatile Dubliner believes the Spireites boss has a bright future ahead of him.

On his move to Town, Gunning told the DT: “Don’t get me wrong it is a massive club but the lure of working with the gaffer again was a massive thing. Having worked with him, knowing what he is about, knowing what he brings to the table, that was a no-brainer in coming here.

“He is only going one way in the game that is for sure and that is definitely up through the leagues. It will be here, hopefully, if it is not then he will be going through the leagues somewhere else.”

Gunning says the demands that Rowe puts on his players is a big factor in his success so far.

He explained: “You have got to just give everything in training every single day. It is a bit different to what you are used to but you adapt to it and everyday you have to come in with the right attitude and train like a bear.”

The former Dundee United man says his best position is centre-back but he has been used in midfield so far in his short time at Town, which is where Rowe played him at Gloucester.

He had a double hernia operation in December and admitted he is not quite at the level he wants to be but is confident he will get back up to speed with more game time.

Chesterfield is Gunning’s 16th club in his career and he is hoping to settle here now and sees no reason why they can’t be challenging for promotion.

“This is where I want to be, if it is not this season then next season we want to get promoted and go from there,” he said.

“You can’t get ahead of yourself, we are still a bit off the play-offs but that is where you have got to be aiming. I think with the squad we have assembled here now you can only be looking up really.

“They are fantastic guys. Usually you get one or two guys that you don’t really like - that’s just how football is - but at this place I really get on with everyone. The gaffer has put a really good group together here.”

Gunning’s first half free-kick gave the Blues all three points against County at Meadow Lane on Saturday, a victory which he says shows they are heading in the right direction.

He added: “We have gone there with a gameplan, it worked really well and came away with three points. We have butchered three or four chances at the end. Miss a couple of them and on another day you get stung. There are little things we can work on but all in all you have got to be happy with where we are going.”