Chesterfield making positive 'impression' on big clubs

Paul Cook and his coaching staff are often praised in post-match interviews by other managers as being class acts on and off the pitch and most opposition are complimentary about the Spireites’ style of play and the players they have.

In recent years Town have had stars on loan from the likes of Everton and Fulham and this season they have got lads from Aston Villa, Leicester City and Sheffield United. They also had Will Dickson from Manchester City before his loan was turned into a permanent move.

At the club’s AGM, a question was put to the board about the positives and negatives of loan players, with one fan making reference to the well-used phrase ‘never fall in love with a loan player.’

Chairman Ashley Kirk gave the example of Dilan Markanday, saying they would not have been able to sign him permanently last summer had they not had him on loan earlier in the season, while the same was also said of Dickson.

“Because his second loan (at Leyton Orient) did not work out, we were able to sign him because he really enjoyed it here,” Kirk said of Markanday, while adding on Dickson: “We were able to impress him and we got what we feel is a good deal. He is happy because he likes it here.”

For a club like Chesterfield it will always be a balancing act between wanting their own assets on the pitch but also knowing that some top young talents from big clubs can make them a better team overall. And there is the benefit of only contributing towards wages and not paying the full amount.

Kirk continued: "There are players on loan now, from big clubs, and all you can do is hope to give them a good experience and they improve the side. Players talk and clubs are impressed. There is a reason we are starting to deal with a higher level of club – Aston Villa, Leicester City, Man City and Fulham. We are making a good impression on these clubs.

"It is important for a club of our size that we have the ability to bring in a player that we could not afford. There are a couple we would financially not be able to sign but they improve us as a team. They help us with our budget because we are generally not paying them as much as other players.”

Kirk also pointed to the business they did in the transfer market last summer, signing up the likes of Zach Hemming, Ryan Stirk, Markanday and Lee Bonis, all on permanent deals.

"You can’t do it all in one flick of a switch, you have got to keep that squad cohesion as well,” he said. “It is something that we are aware of.”

And chief executive John Croot added: “It works both ways. Will Dickson had a loan, we liked him, he liked us, we think he has got potential. And also the relationship we have got with bigger clubs. They know and like the way we play. The quality of coaching is known to be really good. Sometimes it works well for both parties.”