Martin Allen welcomes appointment of Graham Bean as Chesterfield chief executive

Bean was appointed this week, ahead of a planned fans protest against the decline of the club before Saturday’s FA Trophy tie against Basford United.

Bean, a former national chairman of the Football Supporters Association, said he was looking forward to working with the supporters.

Allen, who expects to meet Bean next week, said: “Hopefully supporters are happy there’s been a change, I’m well aware they’ve wanted a change and they’ve got a change. Hopefully they’ll get behind him.

“They’ve been brilliant to the team for the last couple of games, without a shadow of a doubt.

“The players lifted the supporters, that’s how it worked. That’s all working pretty well, now off the field there’s been a change.

“I would have to say to the supporters, they’ve got to get behind Graham and we’ll work our best together, the very best we can do, to pull it all together and make something happen.

“Hopefully we can go forward, we’ve got to make this successful.

“He (Bean) starts on Monday and I’m sure we’ll get to meet up then.

“It’s vitally important that we work very closely.”

Allen said everyone connected with Chesterfield — struggling in the National League after a winless run stretching back to August before last Saturday’s shock success over high-flying Salford City — had to be united.

It’s absolutely vital, on and off the field, the supporters, players and staff are united as one.

GRAHAM BEAN APPOINTED