Chesterfield have announced that the club's owner, Phil Kirk, has died at the age of 59 following a short illness. The League Two side confirmed the news in a statement on Monday morning, saying that Kirk had passed away after a battle with cancer.
Kirk first invested in the club alongside his brother and co-owner, Ashley, in 2022. In March, the club announced that he had been diagnosed with inoperable cancer, and earlier this month it was made public that he had entered palliative care after treatment proved unsuccessful.
A statement from the club read: "It is with great sadness that we announce that the club’s owner, Phil Kirk, has died at the age of 59, following a short illness. Our thoughts are with Phil’s family and friends."
The English Football League also paid tribute, noting that under Kirk's stewardship Chesterfield achieved promotion back to the EFL in 2024 and reached the Sky Bet League Two Play-Offs last season. The EFL extended its deepest sympathies to Kirk's family, friends, and everyone connected with the club.
Chesterfield fans took to social media to express their grief. One supporter wrote: "Thanks to Phil and Ashley Kirk, I'll be watching them start from second place in League Two, and looking upwards." The London Spireites Supporters Group added: "Saviour is a strong word... You were just one of us. Thank you Phil."
