Chesterfield Have A Decision To Make On 22-Year-Old Midfielder After Failed January Move

Chesterfield’s Bailey Hobson has seen a loan move to Barnet fall through, as per a report by the Derbyshire Times.

Chesterfield agreed to let the midfielder return to the National League side on a temporary basis following his spell there earlier this season. However, the move has been blocked by an EFL rule that players can’t join the same club twice on a short-term deal.

Hobson, 22, made 15 appearances for the Bees and chipped in with two goals. He was then recalled by his parent club and he is now in limbo.

Speaking on The Bee Brief podcast (via Derbyshire Times), Barnet’s head of recruitment Kirk Rayment has said: “At half four on Friday we had a deal agreed, all forms signed, EFL rejected it. When he was on loan at us before, we did a month up front and then extended it until the 14th of January.

“When Chesterfield recalled him, they recalled him before 93 days so it is classed as a short-term loan. You can’t have two short-term loans to the same club in one season. It was a rule the EFL brought in in 2016.

“The National League were happy to do it, it is the EFL that weren’t. Chesterfield recalled him after 83 days, another 10-11 days and it would have been classed as a long-term loan.”

Chesterfield exit for Bailey Hobson blocked

Chesterfield have a decision to make on what to do with Hobson between now and the summer.

They still have the chance to let him join another fifth tier team.

He has played for the Spirerites since 2023 and he has played five games this term, two of which have come in the league.

Hobson would benefit from getting some more regular game time under his belt.

His chances of becoming an established starter for Chesterfield over the coming months are slim due to competition in his position.

He was snapped up by the Spirerites to add more competition and depth to their ranks as they went on to gain promotion to the Football League along with Bromley.

The former Sheffield United academy man dropped into non-league as a youngster and had spells with the likes of High Noon, Handsworth and Maltby Main.

He then linked up with Alfreton Town in 2021 and had two impressive years with the Reds before catching the attention of Chesterfield.

What now for Chesterfield?

Paul Cook’s side are back in action this weekend at home to Crewe Alexandra.

They lost 1-0 away at Swindon Town last time out and will want to bounce back.