BREAKING NEWS: Fans hit out over troubled Chesterfield FC-linked football school

Furious fans have been taking to social media after the Derbyshire Times exclusively revealed a cash crisis at a football development centre linked to Chesterfield FC.

On Friday we revealed that coaching staff had departed from the Chesterfield FC Player Progression Pathway (PPP) following claims employees have not been paid for at least three months.

In a separate development, a club sponsor also launched legal action against the PPP over a cancelled tour to Paris.

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The PPP is a separate legal entity from the club - but is owned by Chesterfield FC CEO Chris Turner (pictured top left) and head of youth recruitment Liam Sutcliffe.

On the Derbyshire Times Facebook page, Spireites fans have hit back at club officials - saying the financial problems at the PPP will tarnish the reputation of the club.

Simon Wall said: “This is an absolute shambles, People will automatically link the development centre to the football club and it’s the club that will suffer.”

Lee Forester said the PPP “was a farce from start - just a money making scheme to exploit young kids !!!!...not surprised at all.”

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Joff Rogers commented: “Shambles!! When [my son] first went we bought the kit and then they changed it two weeks later! No refund!

“People paid for kit and never received it and all this was a couple of years ago!”

Jeanette Redfern said: “It took months to get my money back from the cancelled Wales trip. Its been going on from the start.”

Meanwhile, reader Anthony Stephen Dawes called on club chairman Dave Allen to take action or “it will tarnish the club.”

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On Friday we revealed that PPP head coach Steve Hancock was no longer in his role, along with coaches Elliott Flowers and Sean O’Neill, following the dispute.

One former employee at the PPP told the Derbyshire Times that a total of seven former employees had departed in recent months, all over unpaid wages.

To add to the PPP’s woes, club sponsor Paul Boler has launched legal proceedings against Mr Sutcliffe and Mr Turner over a cancelled trip to Paris Saint-Germain, which has left more than 30 families out of pocket.

Club sponsor Paul Boler has launched legal proceedings against Mr Sutcliffe and Mr Turner over a cancelled trip to Paris Saint-Germain, which has left more than 30 families out of pocket.

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Mr Boler is also threatening to withdraw more than £15,000 in Spireites sponsorship if he isn’t reimbursed for the cancelled trip, which is understood to have involved around 35 young players.

Liam Sutcliffe (pictured top right) said: “All creditors will be paid by the end of July. The business is growing, with investment and sponsorship deals in place.

“We are looking forward to the future, with some exciting plans which will be announced in due course.”

Have you had dealings with the Chesterfield FC PPP? Contact Andy Done-Johnson on 01246 504530 or via email - [email protected]

PICTURED: Chris Turner and Liam Sutcliffe (top), and the CFC Village, where the PPP is based.