The End Of An Era

Goodbye Gary Roberts

Chesterfield and Portsmouth have agreed a fee for 31 year old scouse winger Gary Roberts to join former Chesterfield manager Paul Cook. He will take a medical ahead of signing a 3 year deal with Pompey tomorrow earning reported wage of 4k a week. Roberts is reported to be the biggest earner at Chesterfield FC with wages said to be in the region of 3.5k a week.

Roberts signed a three-year contract on the 22nd of June 2013. He went on to score his first goal for the Spireites during a 2–0 win over Cheltenham on his home debut, going on to become a popular figure among all Spireites.  Gary hit the ground running at Chesterfield and in the month of August and netted 3 goals in 6 games as Chesterfield climbed to the top of the table, this saw Roberts named League 2 Player of the month, along with manager Paul Cook being named manager of the month. Roberts received his first red card for the Spireites against arch-rivals Mansfield in a 0–1 defeat.

After his suspension Gary continued his great season and was the leading assister in Sky Bet League 2 in 2014 as well as winning Sky Bet League 2 Player of the Year at The Football League Awards beating Scott Hogan and Sam Winnall to the award. Rochdale manager Keith Hill describing Roberts as "The best player in the league"

This season saw the Spirites reach the Johnstone Paint Trophy final succumbing to a 3–1 defeat by Peterborough United but also promotion to League One as champions. Gary has been an integral part of the 'Paul Cook era' and it does not come as a surprise to many fans that he has moved on following the departure of Paul Cook.

His productivity has been equally as impressive this season where he has scored 8 goals and earned 10 assists as the Spireites reached the League One play-offs. Roberts has been much loved during his time at the Spireites as a character both on and off the field.

Roberts played 74 games for the Spireites scoring 17 times. 

Goodbye Jimmy Ryan

Jimmy Ryan has also left the Spireites and after undergoing a medical at Fleetwood. Ryan was out of contract with Chesterfield.

On 5 June 2013 Ryan signed a one-year contract with the Spireites. It's reported that Jimmy was on his way to sign for Luton Town before receiving a phone call from Paul Cook to have talks with and sign for Chesterfield FC. Ryan has enjoyed two successful seasons at Chesterfield since joining from Scunthorpe in 2013, helping the club to win the League Two title and then reach the League One play-offs this term.

Jimmy has also been an integral part to the 'Paul Cook era' with his midfield partnership with Samy Morsy in the now well known 4-2-3-1 formation. The two would be the heartbeat of the Chesterfield side and were almost ever present since signing for Chesterfield just over two years ago. 

The 26-year-old turned down a new deal at Chesterfield in January and although new Spireites manager Dean Saunders has expressed his desire to retain the services of the midfielder, it seems he is set to move on. 

Liverpool based Ryan could be tempted by the close location of Fleetwood and owner Andrew Pilley's company BES Commercial Gas and BES Commercial Electricity made a turnover of 70 million pounds last year so offering wages are seemingly not a problem for the Cod Army.

Jimmy Ryan has played 83 times for the Spireites scoring 6 goals.

Despite feelings of frustrations, Spireites were well aware that the scouse pair could be leaving Chesterfield this transfer window and will no doubt look back on this era and these two fabulous players with fond feelings.

We at Spireite Gazette wish Gary and Jimmy well and would like to thank them for the good times that they have bought to Chesterfield FC.

We will look forward to who Dean Saunders has lined up as replacements for the pair and hope as one successful era ends and new one begins.