Former Portsmouth, Wigan Athletic and Huddersfield Town favourite reunites with familiar face after Ipswich Town departure

Former Pompey attacker Gary Roberts has made his return to football following a four-month absence from the game.
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After a brief hiatus, he’s followed the latter to Chesterfield as a first-team coach with the view of taking the club back to League Two.

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Following a run of disappointing results at Portman Road the ex-Fratton chief was dismissed before the turn of the year, as the club sat outside the play-off position.

However, he wasn’t out of management long, as he made an emotional homecoming to the Technique Stadium in February.

During his first spell in-charge of the Spireites from 2012 until 2015 he led the club from League Two to the League One play-offs, before departing for the south coast.

Roberts played a sizable part in his success in Derbyshire and continued his impressive displays in royal blue, by lifting the League Two title in 2017.

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Gary Roberts scored 20 goals across two seasons for Pompey.   Picture: Steve Bardens/Getty ImagesGary Roberts scored 20 goals across two seasons for Pompey.   Picture: Steve Bardens/Getty Images
Gary Roberts scored 20 goals across two seasons for Pompey. Picture: Steve Bardens/Getty Images

The ex-Huddersfield Town man became a favourite among the Fratton faithful, while netting 20 goals across two seasons at the club.

He then followed Cook to Wigan shortly after the championship success, before spells at Bala Town and Accrington Stanley led him back to the 55-year-old’s stewardship in Suffolk.

Now, their fourth partnership in seven years sees them aiming to climb back into the Football League, after dropping two divisions to the National League.

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Chesterfield currently occupy a play-off position with seven games remaining in the campaign.

However, Cook’s return hasn’t inspired the automatic promotion challenge many expected, following an inconsistent run of results.

During his two months back at the helm, they’ve won only three league matches and have tasted defeat on four occasions.

Cook will be hoping the appointment of his long-time aid will cement their place in the top-seven.