'I can only see the club going one way' - Chesterfield manager James Rowe on signing his new contract

The Spireites boss penned a new one-year contract extension this week, taking his contract until the summer of 2024.

The 37-year-old has only lost two of 15 games since arriving at the Technique in November, a run which has given the Blues a chance of making the play-offs.

When asked by the DT if it was an easy decision to extend his stay at the club, Rowe said: “Nothing is an easy decision when you commit your future, but it was easy in terms of the boxes being ticked where I am very happy in the environment, I am settling into the area very well, I have made some really strong relationships in and out of the club and I can only see this club going one way and I want to be a part of that so it was easy in those terms.”

Spireites chief executive, John Croot, said it was always the board’s intention to review Rowe’s contract after a ‘few months’ and that the results and style of play has ‘justified’ their decision to appoint him.

“Certainly after 12 weeks we have achieved more than what we thought when set out, even in our wildest dreams, because obviously the form of the team has been excellent,” Rowe said.

“We are probably ahead of where we should be and we know have a fantastic opportunity to achieve something.”

Rowe said that contracts talks were ‘very amicable’ and that he and the board were happy to get it over the line quickly.

He added: “The good work must continue and I would like to thank the board, particularly Mike Goodwin John Croot and Martin Thacker who are the main three who I work with on a day-to-day basis but also the other board members for showing their faith in extending my contract.

“The staff have been fantastic and it is very much a team effort.

“The welcome the fanbase has given me on social media has been outstanding so it is married up really well.

“We will keep our feet on the floor, nothing has been achieved, we have just got ourselves in a position where we can look upwards.”