Spireites Boss Agrees Contract Extension

Chesterfield Manager Paul Cook has signed a one-year extension to his contract.

Cook, whose previous deal was due to expire in 2016, is now tied to the club until the summer of 2017, together with his assistant, Leam Richardson.

Cook joined the Spireites in October 2012 and has overseen the club’s rise from League 2 as champions in 2013/14 and their stabilisation in League 1 during the current campaign.

The contract extension comes in the wake of the January transfer window, which saw the Spireites bring in five new players and sell striker Eoin Doyle to Championship side Cardiff City for a seven-figure fee.

Cook is delighted to commit his future to the club given the volatile nature of football management.

He said: “Along with the rest of the coaching staff, I was brought in to do a job and in football it’s always a difficult job in an ever-changing world.

“I’ve been here now for two years and four months and I think I’m in the top 20 longest-serving managers, which is quite amazing.

“I’d just like to thank the chairman, Chris [Turner], the board of directors and all the supporters for all the faith they’ve shown in me.”

The manager described his feelings for the club and the importance of displaying togetherness and loyalty.

“We feel we have a very strong unity here together as a club,” said Cook. “Any manager will be clamouring for time, but in football today we don’t get that.

“The club is very important to us all. Loyalty in football now is a very hard thing to come across and as a manager or a player I think you need to show that.”

Chesterfield chief executive Chris Turner, who emphasised the need to continue the club’s forward momentum, feels strongly that Cook and his staff are the right people to ensure that happens.

Turner said: “It’s important that we keep this project going forward. After the developments of the transfer window, where we brought in five new players and Eoin [Doyle] left the club, we’re showing that everything’s positive at the club.

“In the two-and-a-half years that Paul’s been here, the progress has been there for all to see. Out on the field of play we’re fifth in League 1, challenging for a play-off spot and we’ve just sold our first million pound Chesterfield player.

“For the first time in a long time there’s a very positive and bright looking future in front of us.”