The 2016-17 campaign delivered a devastating relegation for Chesterfield as The Spireites finished a crushing 24th (bottom) in League One, ending their three-season stay in the third tier. Leading the line amidst the chaos was new signing Kristian Dennis, whose 7 league goals proved a vital but ultimately insufficient contribution in a campaign marked by managerial instability under Danny Wilson and Gary Caldwell. It was a turbulent, emotional year that culminated in the painful drop, marking an unfortunate chapter in the club's 150th anniversary history.