Sheridan in line for Spireites job

John Sheridan: In line for the job at Chesterfield.

JOHN SHERIDAN looks set for a quick return to management after emerging as a leading candidate for the vacancy at Coca-Cola League Two club Chesterfield.

The 44-year-old Sheridan, sacked by Athletic in mid-March is in the frame alongside Jim Gannon, who was made redundant by Stockport County’s administrator this week, and former Burnley boss Steve Cotterill.

Should Sheridan, who is also being linked with the managerial post at Barnsley, take-over at Chesterfield he would be replacing another former Athletic player following Lee Richardson’s departure.

Sheridan would also be reunited with Tommy Wright, who left Boundary Park last weekend, and there is a chance goalkeeper Mark Crossley, released by Athletic, would join the management team.

It looks like being an exciting time for Chesterfield as former Sheffield Wednesday supremo Dave Allen is poised to invest £4million into the club which is also in the throes of moving to a new stadium.

Richardson, who had been at Saltergate for nine years as a player, assistant manager and manager for the last two years, is being linked with the manager’s job at Burton Albion, newly promoted to the Football League.

Ironically, Richardson would replace Roy McFarland who he was No 2 to at Chesterfield.

McFarland, who took over as caretaker at Burton after Nigel Clough’s move to Derby, guided the Brewers into the Football League for the first time in their history only to then inform the directors he didn’t want the post full time.

Four former Athletic players are on the lookout for new clubs after being released.

They are Richard Butcher (Notts County), Darren Byfield (Doncaster), Chris Howarth (Carlisle) and Michael Ricketts (Walsall).




ATHLETIC, who are re-forming a reserve team next season, are in talks with two local non-league clubs about the possibility of staging their games which are likely to be in the west division of the totesport.com League.



Athletic would be up against Accrington Stanley, Blackpool, Burnley, Bury, Carlisle, Manchester City, Morecambe, Preston, Rochdale and Tranmere.