Sheridan Doing it the Rite Way

AFTER failing to secure promotion from Npower League-One with Oldham Athletic during his two year spell, John Sheridan is looking to secure his first managerial honour with League-Two outfit Chesterfield.

The Spireites currently sit top of the league, nine points clear of Wycombe Wanderers - who they thumped 4-1 in midweek - but having played a game more. Even so, there is a substantial gap for the Chairboys to make up.

With just two defeats in their last 16 league games, the Derbyshire club are on course for a return to the third tier of English football after a four year exile.

The Spireites stunned English football when they made it to the FA Cup semi-final in 1997 - taking Premier League side Middlesbrough to a replay having draw the initial tie 3-3 at the Riverside. That season, they overcame Bolton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest before the Division Two (now League One) side were finally seen off by the eventual runners-up.

Chesterfield came close to sealing a Play-Off spot last year but were pipped to seventh place by eventual Play-Off winners Dagenham and Redbridge, who beat already relegated Darlington 2-0, despite their 2-1 win against second place Bournmouth in Sheridan's first season at the helm.

It turned out to be the last game played at Saltergate, the Spireites home since 1884, and what a send off it was with Derek Niven netting a 96th minute winner to spark a pitch invasion.

In their new home the b2net Stadium, Chesterfield have won eleven out of 16 games scoring 43 goals along the way - more than any other League Two side. The most noticeable victory being a dramatic 5-5 draw with Crewe Alexandra on October 2 2010.

46-year-old Sheridan has transformed a club used to losing to one that never gives in, and has attracted high quality players to the b2net,with former Brighton and Hove Albion striker Craig Davies, who leads the club's goalscoring chart with 19 goals in all competitions, the perfect example.

Add to that the loan signings of Scunthorpe United's Ian Morris, Crystal Palace's Kieran Djilali, Manchester City's Javan Vidal and Deane Smalley whom he worked with during his time at Boundary Park.

But, there is also a vast amount of experience in the Spireites squad, namely the shape of veteran striker Jack Lester, who has netted ten league goals this season. With players such as Danny Whitaker, Mark Allott, Robert Page and Ian Breckin all over the 30 barrier, it is the guidance young stars such as Scott Boden need to develop into quality players.

It is the right formula for success that Spireites fans deserve, and what they have been craving since they were last promoted in 2001 - after overcoming a nine point deduction.

The Future's Bright

LOOKING at the Npower League One table, it is hard not to feel a sense of joy for Brighton and Hove Albion, unless you are a die hard Crystal Palace fan, of course. But it just goes to show what can be gained by giving a young manager the chance to make an impact.

Gustavo Augusto Poyet Domínguez, or 'Gus' as he is better known to us, made his name in England when Ruud Gullit snapped up the Uruguayan in 1997 on a free transfer from Real Zaragoza, where the mercurial midfielder had netted 63 goals in 239 league appearances.

Poyet had a good track record of success before joining the Stamford Bridge outfit having won the Copa del Rey in 1994, then helping Zaragoza beat Arsenal in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in a year later.

His line of honours would not stop there after his move to the capital as he again won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1998 along with the European Super Cup, before lifting one of the greatest prizes in English football, the FA Cup in 2000.

Unfortunately for Poyet, the arrival of Claudio Ranieri at Chelsea meant that the one-time Copa America winner was surplus to requirements and Tottenham Hotspur gladly snapped up the deadly play maker for £2.2m.

He retired from football in 2004 after his time at White Hart Lane was blighted by injury, with a reoccurring cruciate knee ligament problem that saw much of his time at Stamford Bridge spent on the sidelines.

In 2006, Poyet was reunited with former Chelsea teammate Dennis Wise as his assistant at Swindon Town before the pair moved to Leeds United where Poyet was to make his name as a coach, despite being unable to lead the Elland Road side to the Championship.

The next season, Poyet was appointed as Juande Ramos' number two as he returned to White Hart Lane where he picked up his first trophy as a coach with Spurs beating Chelsea, of all teams, 2-1 in the Carling Cup.

It was in on November 10 2009 that the Uruguayan was made Seagulls manager after Russell Slade made a poor start to the campaign. Poyet helped steer the struggling club clear of relegation, finishing in a respectable 13th place.

And so began his first full season, and what a way to start it with seven consecutive wins, which saw Albion top the league - and the Seagulls are still there, one point clear of second place Bournmouth with three games in hand. A fine job by Poyet.

It shows what is to be gained by giving young managers a chance. We all saw Paul Ince do a fantastic job at MK Dons, leading them to promotion in his first season, and also to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. However, it seemed that the Blackburn Rovers job, as many predicted, was a step too far for a rookie manager and Ince was sacked on December 16 2008.

Another fine example of the value of youth is none other than Eddie Howe, who led Bournmouth to promotion from League Two in his first full season, having saved the Cherries from relegation the previous season - much like Poyet at Brighton.

Now, Howe's managerial skills have been acknowledged by Burnley who are currently battling for the Play-Offs in the Championship - what a year this could be for the 33-year-old.

Surely it will not be long before more managerial gems are unearthed, like Poyet, Ince, Howe and even John Sheridan at League Two leaders Chesterfield.

Young managers should always be given a chance, perhaps not at the top level of English football where the pressure to succeed is far greater, but in the lower leagues where the margin for error is not as extreme and the learning curve is more valuable.

The future is bright for young managers, they need to be given the chance.