Saunders dismisses poor record

New Chesterfield boss Dean Saunders has defended his relegation record, which has seen him take three teams down in four years.

Saunders' relegation this season with Crawley, where he was interim manager since December following John Gregory's ill heath, means he has now taken a team down in three of the last four seasons. The former Wales international striker was in charge when Doncaster were relegated from the Championship in 2012 and he was unable to save Wolves from the same fate the following year. The Spireites have enjoyed one of the most successful periods in the club's history during the past two and a half years under Paul Cook, who this week left to take over at Portsmouth. After another Wembley appearance in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final, a League Two title and a sixth-placed finish on their return to League One, Chesterfield supporters are keen for the good times to continue and wanted an appointment to reflect that. Given Saunders' recent record, they do not feel they have got their wish and the decision to give the 50-year-old the job has been met by much criticism and negativity among Blues fans. However, Saunders was defiant on the subject and defended his record. "People look at three relegations but it's not as if I've taken over teams and the start of the season, bought a load of players and lost," he said. "If that was the case, I'd hold my hands up. I've had two years, signed a load of bad players and we've gone down - I deserve the sack. "At Doncaster, Wolves and Crawley, I came in with the season already in full-swing and little in the way of time to make the changes I felt were required. "But when you take over teams that are in the bottom three, which I've done three times, you obviously know when you take the job that there's a chance you might go down to the next league below. "Is that my fault? Do I take the blame for that? "I wouldn't have taken the Crawley job if I thought it was going to damage me personally. I went in there to try my best, I tried my best and we took it to the last day of the season. But I know all that was not my fault." The last time Saunders was in charge from the beginning of a season was at Doncaster where, following relegation from the Championship, he guided Rovers to the top of League One before leaving in January 2013 for Wolves. Brian Flynn took over and finished what Saunders had started, steering the South Yorkshire club to the League One title. Saunders said: "It makes a nice change for me to be starting from fresh. Whenever I have had the chance to do that I have done well. "Everything is in place here, I'm not walking into another mess - which I have done a few times and then it is difficult to turn things round. "Chesterfield's profile has increased over the last few years, helped by the move to the new stadium. Proper people are in charge of the club, the team is good - a good squad of players - and the club is going forward." Brian Carey has assisted Saunders at Wrexham, Doncaster and Wolves and it is believed the plan is for the pair to be reunited at Chesterfield, although Carey is currently working as a coach at Blackburn. It is understood Saunders will also appoint his own goalkeeper coach and fitness coach. He said: "The people I have in mind are in jobs at the minute. Once I get myself sorted out and I'm properly through the door then I'll deal with that. "But I can't say too much as they are working for other people. Hopefully news on that will follow shortly."