JOEL SURPRISED IN LEAD-UP TO MAGPIES MOVE
NOTTS County defender Joel Taylor said he was “very surprised” by his departure from Chesterfield this summer – and cannot wait to lock horns with the Spireites this season.
The Magpies paid an undisclosed fee for Taylor’s services in the summer and the left-back has proved to be a shrewd signing following some impressive performances at Meadow Lane.
Chesterfield had allowed him to leave in the wake of signing Calvin Miller, who had been a target for Notts following his impressive end of season form during a loan spell with the club last term.
That led Taylor to head in the opposite direction and he left the Spireites just months after they paid Chester around £25,000 to sign him last December.
The full-back said he returned to Chesterfield in the summer but did not have to wait long before Notts came calling.
“I didn’t really know where I stood in the summer,” he said.
“When I was at Chesterfield I had a conversation before going back in the summer and basically was told that my time there’s going to be limited.
“I felt a bit deflated because I knew I wasn’t going to play. Obviously, that’s what I’ve been told. I just went back in and just tried to do the best I could.
“To me, it was very surprising. I only joined in December. I planned to obviously stay there and kick on. Chesterfield did well last season so I intended that I was going to be there again to do exactly the same.
“They just said to me that they were going to bring in another player, which the gaffer (James Rowe) really liked and he was obviously going to play.
“He just said to me you’re basically going to be second choice. He said if you want to stay then you can but if anyone comes in for you then we’ll have a chat about it.
“We’ve got a good relationship to be fair. I mean, he’s the one who brought me into Chesterfield. I just guess how football works. He thought somebody would benefit the team a lot more than I did.
“Luckily for me, I was back for two or three days before I got the call from Notts County and then that was all wrapped up very quickly.”
Taylor was not the only signing Notts made from Chesterfield this summer, with striker Kairo Mitchell also making the switch. And with both clubs expected to be among the National League promotion challengers, it promises to be a mouthwatering encounter when they meet.
Taylor says he and Mitchell cannot wait for that, with the first meeting between the sides set to take place on December 4.
“It should be a very good game and Kairo and I are looking forward to it,” he said.