Sheffield United promotion hero becomes free agent following play-off heartbreak
Sheffield United icon John Fleck has been released by Chesterfield after they missed out on a shot at promotion earlier this month.
Former Sheffield United midfielder John Fleck has been released by Chesterfield following their League Two play-off semi-final heartbreak.
The Scot, who joined the Spireites in September 2024, initially on a deal until the end of the 2024/25 season, is one of 11 players to have been released by the North Derbyshire outfit following their play-off semi-final defeat to Notts County earlier this month.
After losing the first leg 1-0 to Martin Paterson’s side at the SMH Group Stadium, Chesterfield were unable to break down a stubborn Notts defence in the second leg, drawing 0-0 at Meadow Lane, meaning they were edged out by a goal to nil on aggregate, falling at the semi-final stage for the second season running.
Fleck, 34, featured in the second leg stalemate at Meadow Lane, climbing off the bench towards the end of the first half to replace the injured Ryan Stirk. It marked his 40th and final appearance for Paul Cook’s side.
The former United midfielder, who will celebrate his 35th birthday in August, experienced a health scare during his time with Chesterfield, falling to the pitch during the warm-up ahead of a clash with Doncaster Rovers at the SMH Group Stadium in February 2025. He required medical attention before being taken to hospital.
It was later revealed by Chesterfield assistant boss Danny Webb that Fleck “had a fit of some sort”. Thankfully, it did not sideline him for long, and he was back on the pitch within a month.
Widely recognised as a modern day legend at Bramall Lane, the former Coventry City man, who made 278 appearances during his United career, will be hoping to find a new club as quickly as possible ahead of the forthcoming campaign.
Fleck won promotion twice with the Blades, helping them climb out of League One in 2016/17 and then into the Premier League just two years later. He left Bramall Lane in February 2024, joining Blackburn Rovers.