DREW IN DESPAIR AT THE SPIREITE EFL EXIT
FULL-BACK Drew Talbot couldn’t hide his pain after Chesterfield dropped out of the EFL and lost manager Jack Lester.
Lester took over from Gary Caldwell in September but failed to rally his former club as they were officially relegated out of the EFL for the first time since 1921 on Tuesday.
The Chesterfield legend has now been replaced by Ian Evatt until the end of the season.
But Talbot, 31, says he feels guilty for the departure of Lester as a draw between Morecambe and Cambridge confirmed relegation.
“I texted him, I didn’t think it was appropriate to ring,” he said. “I apologised really and just said I felt responsible for what had gone on, in the sense that I’d been brought in to help and we’re still in the same situation.
“It was a nice message he sent back. I’ve got massive amounts of respect for Jack, from previously playing with him.”
The manager’s departure was a surprise to Talbot and a bitter blow.
“I didn’t think it would happen until the end of the season, if anything was going to happen.
“I didn’t actually think he would go, to be honest,” he added.
“We got a text last Sunday night saying we weren’t in for a couple of days and I think that was the writing on the wall that something was going to happen.
“This club is quite close to my heart. It’s quite a sad state of affairs.
“I’ve not slept well for weeks. After the Forest Green game (a 4-1 defeat last weekend), I was so tired that I got home and sat downstairs all day.
“I didn’t actually sleep that night.
“I can’t speak for the lads, I hope it does bother them because it should bother them, it’s on their CV for the rest of their careers now.
“It hurts bad.”