Signing of Bradford City's Danny Rowe shows ambition of Chesterfield, says boss James Rowe

The striker, 32, has joined for an undisclosed fee from Bradford City, penning a two-year deal but a third year can be triggered depending on performance.

The Spireites tried to sign him earlier this season before the forward moved from Oldham Athletic to Bradford.

When asked if it was a coup for Chesterfield to land someone of such pedigree, manager Rowe said: “Yes, it is. We are delighted to have him.

“We are really surprised (that he was available).

“Within the last 48 hours it has really unfolded, it has been a heavy 48 hours to get him in.

"I think it will bring fresh energy needed to the changing room because when you get rocked by Haydn’s injury and the Akwasi one, they are two big blows.

“It is not just a short-term one to gamble on promotion. Akwasi isn’t a short-term injury, it is a long-term one, so with Tom Denton’s long-term injury as well we needed a striker for the longer term and Danny is that.

“We got close in January before we went to Bradford, we were close to signing him but it did not work out because he wanted to continue in the EFL.

“An opportunity arose in the last eight days after we lost Akwasi and I am really pleased he has chosen his future with us.

“It (his contract) is a couple of years guaranteed and then the third year is incentivised, it is performance-based, and I am sure he will hit those targets knowing Danny.

“It is never an easy decision to drop down out of the EFL but he probably underlines our ambitions as a club.”

Chesterfield have been on the end of some criticism in recent weeks over their transfer business but boss Rowe has strongly defended the club.

He said “It is certainly within next year’s budget and this year’s budget, it is nothing to do with furlough, there have been no other players being put on furlough for this to deal, it is a business deal, it does eat into that 20 per cent saving (on the budget for next year) a little but I am sure I can make it back through other ways going forward as I have shown in the last five months.

“People are looking at us saying we are spending a lot of money but let them talk, I am not fussed, I know where we are, I work closely with the board and it is well within our budget.”

The new signing was prolific in his time in the National League with AFC Fylde a couple of years ago and the manager believes his experience will be key.

“Danny is proven at this level, he can change a game on its head so he is an artist,” Rowe explained.

“He will help Kairo (Mitchell) with his development and I am really looking forward to seeing them two play up front but also not forgetting we have got Nathan (Tyson), Adi (Yussuf) and Marcus (Dinanga) as well so we have got some great firepower.”