Chesterfield, managed by former Blues boss Paul Cook with Kieron Dyer on his staff and Armando Dobra a key member of the squad, secured the National League title and promotion to League Two by beating Boreham Wood 3-0 at the SMH Group Stadium this afternoon.

The Spireites, who lost in the National League play-off final last term, have led from the front during this season and are 21 points ahead with five games to play.

Cook took over at Chesterfield, who he previously saw to the 2013/14 League Two title, in February 2022, two months after his sacking by the Blues.

Dyer, the U21s coach at Town during Cook’s time at Portman Road, joined the coaching staff at the Derbyshire club towards the end of last season and, having had a spell away while he underwent his liver transplant, returned to the club earlier in the campaign.

Dobra (pictured above celebrating with Dyer), who has scored 10 times this season, was signed by Cook in the summer of 2022 following his Town exit, while Bailey Clements made the same move during that close season.

Another former Town academy player, Harley Curtis, moved to Chesterfield last summer and has made a handful of sub appearances, including a game from the bench today.

Ex-Town winger Gary Roberts is Cook’s first-team coach having been in a similar role on his Portman Road staff.

Cook was emotional at the final whistle following today’s promotion-clinching result.

“I lost my dad two-and-a-half years ago and it’s his birthday today.” Cook told TNT Sports.

“I am delighted, I really am. I am delighted for the supporters. When I came back two-and-a-bit years ago, I didn’t realise how tough a league it was.

“It has been amazing. I can’t thank the players, the staff, enough. It has been great. It has been such a team effort.

“My staff have been outstanding all year but the players take all the plaudits tonight.”

Laughing, the 57-year-old added: “I will be vanishing now for a couple of bottles of Peroni!”

Photo: Contributed

Miaow added 21:25 - Mar 23 As much as it ultimately didn’t work out for us with Cook as manager, a fair number of our key players from the past couple of seasons – Morsy, Chaplin, Burns, Walton, Hladký, Burgess, Edmundson, Evans – joined the club during his tenure and a few of them had worked with him previously, so he definitely had a bearing on them coming to Ipswich. I don’t have the same ill feeling towards him as I do to some of our previous managers from the Evans era. It’s good to see Chesterfield back in the League.

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Michael101 added 21:29 - Mar 23 I feel as cook was used to get rid of the dead wood before k MC k took over
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IMOM added 21:29 - Mar 23 Congratulations Paul and all the ex-Ipswich contingent, fantastic achievement!
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algarvefan added 21:46 - Mar 23 This is fantastic news, well done Paul Cook and the players and staff. Paul Cook was a truly likeable guy as Town manager and although things didn't always go right he had my utmost respect as a man, he deserves this and it's good to see Chesterfield back where they belong.
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ChrisFelix added 22:06 - Mar 23 The man who started the come back. As said above bought several key players, but his trouble was that he never established a settled team
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Dissboyitfc added 07:18 - Mar 24 Very pleased for Paul Cook and the ex ipswich contingent! Whilst we should thank him and remember the clear out and some of the quality he signed, however with the benefit of hindsight compared to what we have now, this is more like his level!
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raycrawfordswig added 07:33 - Mar 24 Congratulations Paul didn’t work out for you at Town but nice too see an ex manager doing the business.
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ArnieM added 07:50 - Mar 24 Congratulations Paul. You’re a top bloke and I’m watching with interest and hope that you get back up the divisions. Enjoy that Peroni (a good choice too!)
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Billericay12 added 09:00 - Mar 24 A very likeable guy and I was disappointed he didn’t bring success to us during his time but he did bring some good players to us which helped lay the foundations for what we are seeing today. The big difference between Paul Cook and his staff and what we have in place now is undoubtedly the quality of the coaching and preparation. We have a Premier League quality team of management and coaching staff now. Paul Cook and his same staff have just won the National League. Congratulations to him though. He’s a great character.

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Edmundo added 09:39 - Mar 24 Well done Cookie! Hopefully back to back promotion now. Be good to see him have a go at L1 level again.
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Linkboy13 added 10:33 - Mar 24 Maybe if we have had the Cook Dyer combination at Portman road things might have been different.
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barrystedmunds added 13:46 - Mar 24 He was always doomed to fail with us……..he was a Paul!!!
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 21:20 - Mar 24 A decent man who was clearly respected given the quality of player he persuaded to sign for us, all before GameChanger gave us a future. He will always be welcome at Portman Rd I have no doubt.
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 21:21 - Mar 24 Also respect to Kieron Dyer, a true Blue. Always liked Dobra.
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