Spireites ready to name manager

Spireites are set to unveil their new permanent manager, possibly ahead of Boxing Day’s trip to Peterborough United.
Danny Wilson is the favourite to take over as Chesterfield managerDanny Wilson is the favourite to take over as Chesterfield manager
Danny Wilson is the favourite to take over as Chesterfield manager

Mark Smith, having reiterated his preference to stay as academy manager, will almost certainly lead the team into the game at London Road, but it’s looking ever more likely that former player Danny Wilson will be unveiled as the new boss.

Wilson, 55, left Barnsley in February after returning to Oakwell following his initial success as a manager, leading the Reds to the Premier League in his first managerial appointment. Since then he’s been in charge at Sheffield Wednesday, Bristol City, MK Dons, Hartlepool, Swindon and Sheffield United before returning to Barnsley in December 2013.

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With over 1000 games under his managerial belt, with a 40% win ratio, Wilson joined Spireites as a player in 1980, signed by Arthur Cox who left shortly afterwards leaving Frank Barlow to oversee the team’s victory in the Anglo-Scottish Cup and a near miss to promotion to the Championship.

The 1997 League Managers’ Association Manager of the Year for leading Barnsley into the top flight, Wilson has also won promotion with Hartlepool United in 2007 at a time when Chris Turner, Chesterfield’s Chief Executive, held a similar post at Victoria Park. He also led Bristol City to victory in the LDV Vans Trophy, the equivalent of the current JPT.

Wilson, who lives in Chesterfield, was also a colleague of Turner’s at Hillsborough and the pair featured together in the victorious League Cup side that beat Manchester United in 1991 when John Sheridan scored the game’s only goal. The new boss will be without Drew Talbot (hamstring) at Peterborough but Richard Wood and Lee Novak have both trained and could be available for selection. Spireites are looking to avoid a seventh straight league defeat for the first time since 1988