Reeves, Innes and Allott are due to meet on Saturday in a fascinating division-two clash at Saltergate. Even if the transfers are held up, there is no clause saying the loan players can’t face their current clubs. Reeves is still Chesterfield’s captain and top scorer, but he is also a high-earner at a club with well-known financial problems.
He will sign for Athletic in a two-and-half-year deal, making them the ninth port of call in his long career. Innes, meanwhile, was due out of contract in the summer and is leaving in a free transfer, with Athletic taking a big percentage of any sell-on fee. His Boundary Park career featured 73 league appearances, many of them at left-back, and one goal. But he has slotted into Chesterfield’s midfield and scored in both matches to date.
The Innes move is set to go through despite Spireites manager Nicky Law quitting to take over at Bradford. Of Chesterfield’s four goals since Innes and Allott arrived, they have scored three and made the other.