Danny Whitaker

Devongone · 17-09-2020, 13:09

Now I know we are struggling just to survive, but Macclesfield have been liquidated. Sorry as we feel about that, we can't help them. We could, however, consider finding a post at Chesterfield for Danny Whitaker. He gave Macc years of loyal service, but he also showed us great loyalty too. He was an extremely popular and very important player for us. The most obvious thing about him was that he was a very clever player and I think there's a lot to learn from a former player like him.

I don't want to profit from Macclesfield's downfall. It simply would be a nice statement of intent from a club with a new attitude, to show its decency and in this instance both Danny and Chesterfield would benefit. I'm sure he isn't the type to rock Pembo's boat, and I'm pretty sure he'd like to help get us back to the EFL.

Dancingwilldoit · 17-09-2020, 16:57

Dev, I dont think the trust have any spare cash for anything. Looking at the Q&A session report last week, it would seem the previous regime stitched the trust up somewhat. Its probably their own fault for not checking but they are paying off Sheridan @ £10k a month plus a shortfall £24k that wasnt paid him because of Covid. They say they expected the Cooper money that they didnt know had already been paid and removed by DA, Carson wasnt paying any bills using Covid as an excuse so they inherited a load of debt.
I wont put in print what I think about the Sheridan debt other than I hope somebody ties him to a concrete block and pushes him off Wigan Pier. I think I read somewhere that the trust only have enough funds to get us to the start of the season. If it doesn't start on time and we dont get some income, we may be joining Macclesfield.

Devongone · 17-09-2020, 18:21

Well we are appointing staff, because we do need staff, like a secretary.

I don't know about our backroom staff except it isn't Covid free. I do know that Danny is the kind of man who would be good for us. At the moment we could get him if we are getting anyone at all. And I do think he might show a player like your much derided Joe Rowley the way to go and that's not a long way down Sheffield Rd!

It isn't any good pushing John Sheridan off Wigan pier I'm not sure the water is 6 feet deep and anyway all the unemployed magnet fisherman would pull him out.

By the way I hope you caught the goal Dion Charles grabbed for Accrington. I only spent about three seasons saying we could get him for nothing whilst he trawled his talent around Lancashire before ending up marooned on Southport's endless beach. I've been the one advocating young talent at the lowest possible cost for seasons, but you can't just spend nothing. That's why I'm advocating an out-of-work man, who'll be loyal and reward us for taking a chance on him ..... if we can possibly do it. After all we are a football club, and getting good at playing the game is rather a pre-requisite.

By the way, nice that you are still around my friend. I hope you are well. A neighbour went through the prostate operation for a cancer and was quite ill afterwards, but he seems to have recovered and was last week told his PSA was 0 - hope that makes sense. Anyway take care of yourself Dancing. Sheridan is going to suffer at Wigan you know. There's no way they'll stay up.

**spireitematt** · 18-09-2020, 00:02

(17-09-2020, 16:57)Dancingwilldoit Wrote: Dev, I dont think the trust have any spare cash for anything. Looking at the Q&A session report last week, it would seem the previous regime stitched the trust up somewhat. Its probably their own fault for not checking but they are paying off Sheridan @ £10k a month plus a shortfall £24k that wasnt paid him because of Covid. They say they expected the Cooper money that they didnt know had already been paid and removed by DA, Carson wasnt paying any bills using Covid as an excuse so they inherited a load of debt.
I wont put in print what I think about the Sheridan debt other than I hope somebody ties him to a concrete block and pushes him off Wigan Pier. I think I read somewhere that the trust only have enough funds to get us to the start of the season. If it doesn't start on time and we dont get some income, we may be joining Macclesfield.

That's my biggest worry Dancing, that we will end up like Macclesfield.

Devongone · (This post was last modified: 18-09-2020, 13:42 by Devongone.)

It is hard to disagree with Macclesfields fans' diagnosis that their primary problem was their owner.

Our greatest problem is now still our former owner. A fortune made from Casinos does not suggest financial probity and I was always of the opinion there would be skeletons, but unlike some of Dennis Nilsen's they won't necessarily be in the cupboard. The drains do need sniffing.

Unfortunately freezing like a rabbit in the headlights is no more an answer for Chesterfield than it is for a government faced with Covid.

The great thing about Danny Whitaker for a club struggling financially is that he was a very smart player, he's unfailingly loyal, really popular and almost certainly someone younger players could learn from. Also at 39 he had registered as a player with Macclesfield. We went out of our way to recruit Nathan Tyson as just a player at 38. In a small squad wouldn't Danny be the ideal answer in an emergency? We've been playing and paying a nunk like Robbie Weir for years, surely recruiting a proper bloke who might actually be delighted to help us out can't be a daft suggestion? I'm beginning to wonder if money is that tight can we afford NOT TO approach Danny?

Dancingwilldoit · 18-09-2020, 18:24

Am still around Dev thanks. Not sure about SGB though. Tried to send him a couple of Pm's but had no reply. Hope he's ok and still with us. He was always quiet over summer but its been a long while since he posted.
Not sure about your comment "Sheridan is going to suffer at Wigan you know", it will be more a case of the poor Wigan fans. Give it a couple of weeks and nobody will be listening.
Sheridan is out of the same mould as Bonking Bozo, The Bloody Baroness Dildo Harding and Matt Handonhiscock, no blame on them its everybody elses fault.
Years ago I think I remember a Dave Allen sketch where a little kid runs into a cafe and shouts "Wave", so everybody waves at him. He looks perplexed and shouts "No, Wave" again louder and just as everybody is about to wave at him again this effin great tidal wave engulfs them all. Who would have thought it eh?

Devongone · 19-09-2020, 12:35

I miss SGB too. He was / is a good bloke. Something was obviously wrong, and it was something he didn't want to share. Whatever it was I wish he had, I think he would have simply found deeper friendships. So yes I'm glad you are still around and opinionated Dancing. I must admit putting the head of the most complained about communications company in Britain in charge of Test and Trace was a masterstroke.

I loved THAT Dave Allen.

I don't know if you'll agree, having run a business, but there are times when you have to do your best to move on. Obviously we are strapped for cash, but it unlikely just to fall into the club's lap. In fact, it is more likely disappear from its hiding place under a Boardroom chair. So we have to do some things. And doing always has costs. Whits would be a good thing to do in my opinion and an investment in the future. Similarly that's what I was thinking on another thread where I was suggesting designing a Derbyshire based second strip. Only a few thousand Chesterfield fans would ever be up for buying any kind of shirt linked to the club. If it had a Derbyshire connection the potential market would be Derbyshire ...... 800,000 people or more. Chesterfield fans could buy it with our badge prominent. Those who just liked the shirt but weren't Spireites could have discreet little spire, like any other company logo ......

Doing nothing means we die. The things we do need to bring a return. We do have to have a second strip in another season, so make it one that sells and give it a theme so maybe we can have new designs on that same theme to bring in the punters. In the same way this current set of players have to be worth our expenditure on them, so they must at least stabilise the club and at best mount a challenge so we have something on which to build. Equally they can only be players who cost nothing or next to it in transfer fees and we can't carry a huge first team squad. And we urgently need some invention as regards income streams.

Wigan fans have already suffered. They were halfway up the Championship. They got relegated, lost their manager and all their best players. They've got Sheridan, who as you point out will be fine if somehow the team wins games, but if, as seems likely, they keep losing, he'll be the only one blameless and the blame game will destroy the team. But he doesn't WANT to lose. He HATES it. Sheri's blamegame is like Peter Schmeichel dropping a cross. The full back should have tackled the winger, the centre backs weren't marking, I shouldn't have had to come for the ball at all, nobody was picking up runners .......... I'm just a loud-mouthed Dane whose reputation exceeded his ability years ago ...... The only difference is Sheri shouts because he hates himself, Schmeichel used to shout because he'd fallen in love with a mirror.

SaltergateBorn · 30-09-2020, 19:19

I`ve just looked at the forum for the first time in quite a while as I`ve been busy – far too busy - with other things that I won`t go into. No interest to anyone else but me, really. However I`m delighted to inform you all that, in common with Mark Twain, reports of my death appear to have been greatly exaggerated. Quite gratifying really; I`ve always been a big admirer of old Sam. I would happily sacrifice several limbs to have just a fraction of his wit, but at least we seem to have something in common. That`s summat to hang onto, I suppose.

Sorry I didn`t reply to your PM, Dancing, but for the reasons explained above I didn`t know about them. My posting this has probably answered it to some extent but I promise I`ll get back to you shortly.

By the way, Dev, please be assured that my friendships are as plentiful and as profound as I would wish them to be. Thanks for your concern, though.

When the season gets going and when (if?) I feel that I have something meaningful to contribute I have no doubt that I`ll chirp up at some point. Unless I`m dead, of course; in which case I possibly may not do.

Dancingwilldoit · 30-09-2020, 19:44

Hi SGB, good to hear from you again. Glad everything is ok with you.
Season starts Saturday. Live game on Wealdstone pay website @ £9.99. All monies go to the home team. I wont watch Prem Football as its bad enough with crowds but with the fake action sounds its like a Hollywood Blockbuster presentation - more flash than content.
I will enjoy a beer come 3-00pm Saturday and sit and watch my first game of proper footie since February. I really do hope we get off to a decent start this season. Who knows, by 5-00pm I might even be celebrating a win.
This year has been absolutely shite for me and my family so come on Town give me something to smile about.

Devongone · 05-10-2020, 12:21

I think since Bluepooch's sudden death we are conditioned to seeing that as the only explanation for prolonged silence. I agree, some things need and benefit from sharing, sometimes we need more friends, BUT sometimes none of that applies. I'm delighted you are okay SGB, and nosily i wonder if you have moved or plan to .... For myself I concluded there was no point in moving to a new place until there is a possibility of making new friends and a new life. Whilst Boris is inventing rules of the number he first thought of and poor old Jeremy Corbyn is choosing country and western shirts at random I thought I'd stay put, especially as in the South Hams no one has died of Covid for 17 weeks. IT's bit like The Shire. I keep checking my feet.

One thing you do know now SGB is that unusually for a banker you do have friends you've never met and probably never will, who care about you. Amazing this interweb thingy innit?