Ex-Chesterfield manager James Rowe has been found not guilty of sexual assault

Former Chesterfield manager James Rowe was found not guilty of sexual assault charges in a seven-day trial at Derby Crown Court.

Rowe, 41, was charged with one count of sexual assault in September 2022 and pleaded not guilty.

He was suspended by Chesterfield on 24 January 2022, pending an investigation into allegations of misconduct, and left the club by mutual consent on 4 February.

Rowe was appointed as Chesterfield manager in November 2020 after leaving National League North club Gloucester City. He took Chesterfield to sixth place in the National League in his first season before losing to Notts County in the play-offs.

He won 101 points from 50 games in his first year as manager and also led Chesterfield to the third round of the FA Cup, where they played Chelsea. In January 2022 they lost 5-1 to the Premier League team at Stamford Bridge.

Rowe was later appointed manager of AFC Fylde from March to September 2022. Rowe resigned from the National League North after being charged with one count of sexual assault over an alleged incident in November 2021.

Rowe’s original trial date of December 2023 has been pushed back to October 2024.

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