Boa Morte arrival makes Chesterfield players for promotion
Published:Chesterfield have resumed life in League Two in reasonable fashion, sitting mid-table but in touching distance of the play-offs with 11 games played, as 14/1 longshots for divisional glory.
But caretaker manager Tommy Wright has made a bold move to ignite their season, landing ex-Arsenal, Fulham and West Ham winger Luis Boa Morte on a short-term contract.
35-year-old Boa Morte, capped 28 times by Portugal, has signed until January, and is in line to make his Spireites debut at home to Dagenham and Redbridge.
“He’s fit and he’s ready to go. He might not be able to play a whole game but he is certainly ready to make an impact,” said Chesterfield chief executive Chris Turner.
With over 300 starts in English football under his belt, the vast majority of which came in the top flight, Boa Morte certainly has the pedigree to be a success in Derbyshire.
His addition is sure to stir up Spireites supporters, who are eager for a repeat of their club’s League Two triumph the season before last, although 10/3 Gillingham look tough to overhaul.
Whilst it seems a tilt at the title could prove a bridge too far this term, a Chesterfield outfit rejuvenated by Boa Morte’s arrival can certainly challenge for promotion at 3/1.
The fact that the Portuguese’s transfer fees have topped £9m across his career are an indication as to his ability, and a fully-fit Boa Morte could prove a promotion bid catalyst.
That is certainly the hope of Wright, who has been impressed by his new charge’s attitude, telling BBC Sport: “It’s great that a player of his ability wants to play football.”
“To have a player of Luis’s quality coming to Chesterfield is a fantastic coup for us.
“The financial aspect of the deal was no worry – he just wanted to come and play.”
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
