Chris Turner was confirmed as the Chief Executive of Chesterfield on December 21, 2011.

Turner began his coaching career at Leyton Orient as joint manager with John Sitton, before spells at Leicester City and Wolves, where he was appointed youth team coach.

Turner's first managerial position came at Hartlepool in 1999. Turner took charge when Hartlepool were bottom of the Football League. Success followed as he saved the club from relegation and turned them into promotion contenders with play-off place finishes three seasons running under Turner's stewardship.

Hartlepool gained promotion at the end of the 2002–03 season but Turner had moved back to his old club Sheffield Wednesday six months before the success was achieved and was appointed manager in November 2002.

He faced with the difficult task of saving the club from relegation. The sides form improved during the final stages of the season, however the club were relegated on the final day of the season. Turner and Wednesday parted company in September 2004.

The same year, Turner returned to management with Stockport County where he would remain as boss until December 2005 before returning to Victoria Park.

Turner returned to Hartlepool in 2006, initially appointed as Director of Sport. In December 2008, Chris then took over as manager following the departure of Danny Wilson. He remained with the club until August 2010 after firmly establishing them in League One.

As a player, Turner made his name as a keeper at some of the leading top league clubs in the eighties which included Sunderland, Manchester United, Sheffield Wednesday, Lincoln City and Leeds United.