Rai Simons has been rewarded for his performances this season with a new contract at Sky Bet League One side Chesterfield.

Simons, 20, is one of three Chesterfield players offered deals, while seven others have been released.

The Bermuda striker, who signed for Chesterfield from non-League Ilkeston in April last year, played no part in Chesterfield’s 2-0 defeat away to Bradford City in their final game of the season last weekend.

He enjoyed a promising start to the season, scoring five goals by January 2, bagging a brace at home to Shrewsbury in manager Danny Wilson’s second game in charge after replacing Dean Saunders. Simons, however, fell out of favour during the second-half of the season, featuring in only four more games.

He made 22 appearances in his first full season in English football and will remain at the Proact Stadium along with Jake Orrell and Jake Beesley.

Drew Talbot, Chris Herd, Jordan Slew, Byron Harrison, Mani Dieseruvwe, Michael Onovwigun and Aaron Chapman will all be leaving the club.

Chesterfield finished eighteenth in the table, seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Wilson said: “It is a difficult time when players come to the end of their contract, with all the uncertainty.

“I hope the players who are leaving us have enjoyed their time at the club and I wish them all the best. Hopefully they can kick on and enjoy future success.”

Simons is expected to turn out for Bermuda in next month’s Caribbean Cup qualifying matches against French Guiana and Dominican Republic.

n Concacaf will be celebrating “Women’s Football Day” next week and the Bermuda Football Association will mark the event with a five-a-side festival at the Clyde Best Centre of Excellence Field next Saturday.

“We are asking for all female players between the ages of 13 and 20 to come out and enjoy a day of football,” the BFA said.

The festival will be held from 12pm to 3pm and players will be required to register in advance in order to be assigned to one of the teams.

The BFA is encouraging all females to come out and participate in the festival, which is aimed to promote and celebrate the women’s game which continues to grow both on the island and worldwide.

Players can register by sending an e-mail to bfa@bermudafa.com or on www.bermudafa.com or facebook.com/bermudafootball. For details call the BFA at 295-2199.