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| James Toney in the Non-League Paper, Sunday 9th April 2000 |
| 'Chesterfield want Clough' |
| Burton Albion manager Nigel
Clough will almost certainly be unveiled as the new chief of Football League
side Chesterfield next season. Despite starting his managerial career in the shadow of his famous father, Clough has shown undoubted pedigree since assuming control at Eton Park, just 25 miles upstream on the Trent from where dad Brian became a legend at the City Ground. |
| He
was recently awarded the Dr. Martens Premier League manager of the month
title and though hopes of promotion have long vanished, the Brewers are chasing
Bath City for the divisional runners-up spot - a potential highest-ever league
finish. In addition Burton are also seeking silverwear and face Hastings Town in the Dr. Martens League Cup final later this month. |
|
| Clough has already been
linked with League positions despite only one full season's managerial
experience. Twelve months ago he was tipped to join forces with Stuart Pearce
as joint manager at Nottingham Forest. In contrast to Burton's fortunes, Nationwide Second Division basement side Chesterfield are almost certainly doomed to the drop after a frustrating season of under-acheivement during which they have mustered just five league wins. Last week millionaire businessman Darren Brown completed a £1m takeover at the Spireites, assuming 94 percent of the shares and promising immediate changes. Brown, who at 28 is the youngest chairman in the Football League, believes Clough possesses the ideal blend of youth and enthusiasm needed to revitalise Chesterfield, who shot to national prominence four years ago with an FA Cup run that took them to within 90 minutes of the Twin Towers before losing to Middlesbrough in a semi-final replay. Amongst his plans are a new £7m, 10,000 all-seater stadium and an immediate cash injection for new players. "We are committed on the financial side to bring back the glory days," he said. Current boss John Duncan's future has already been decided with the Spireites ten points adrift of safety and games fast running out. Club record signing Jason Lee stormed out of Saltergate protesting at 'bad management', while the club's hopes of visiting Wembley in the Auto Windscreens Shield were ended by eventual finalists Stoke City. But after nearly seven seasons, during which time he earned promotion from the Third Division and masterminded their Wembley assault, Duncan may move upstairs to a director of football role. Clough, 34, has been a regular visitor to the Saltergate ground this season and has made no secret of his ambition to follow his father into league management. Chesterfield officials have dismissed his visits as scouting missions, but privately accept they wull be loking for a new manager during the close season break. Burton had hoped that Clough would guide the Brewers to professional football, but admit the lure of a league club with cash to spend may be too tempting for their ambitious manager. They have always known the Clough apprenticeship may be short-lived and face a difficult task in filling the boots of their player/manager. Should Clough agree terms with Brown he is almost certain to demand that Burton assistant and former Forest team-mate Gary Crosby joins him at Chesterfield. Among the other names also touted for Duncan's job is the former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Wilson, who was sacked last month, but Brown is thought to favour a younger, dynamic manager with a point to prove. |
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