Chester City could face expulsion from the Football Conference following Forest Green no show

Could this be the end for Chester City Football Club?

Forest Green Rovers, clearly upset by the late postonement of tonight’s Chester City clash have published the following statement regarding the matter on their official website:

“The following is issued by Colin Peake in his role of Vice Chairman as of 7pm this evening.

“I was aware that Chester City met with the Football League this morning in Preston, seeking to have discretionary payments made to them from their time in the Football League. This would have allowed them to make interim payments to their players but unfortunately for them this request was declined.  In light of that information I sought an assurance from Chester City that they would still fulfill their fixture this evening and this was confirmed to me at

2pm.

“In light of rumours from the Chester area then circulating I could only respond to enquiries with the assurance given that they were travelling. At 5.11pm I received notification by telephone from Chester City that they were unable to

fulfill the fixture due to lack of players and since then staff and I have been working hard to minimise the impact such a late cancellation causes to everyone.

May I thank them for their response and offer sincere apologies to all sponsors and supporters. Cancelling any fixture causes major problems and this has been the worse one due to its timing.

“It would be remiss of Forest Green Rovers to pass further comment at this time, other than to say this loss of the fixture will cause serious consequences financially, when you consider the loss of other fixtures due to the FA Cup and

the possible loss of other income Saturday week, dependant on the FA Trophy results this evening. Added to that we also have had an issue over money from Notts County and the knock on effect with Inland Revenue payments. The club will now be seeking to recover loss of revenue from those sources it feels it can claim against.

“No doubt the Football Conference will now be seriously looking at Rule 8.6 and the possible expulsion of Chester City under this rule. If such action ensues this will not help us for obvious reasons but again I believe it is right we

keep our counsel at this time and await a speedy resolution so we can adjust accordingly to protect the long term interests of the football club and the Ltd Company”

Football Conference to investigate postponement

The Football Conference have confirmed this evening that they will open an investigation into the last -minute postponement of Chester City’s away trip to Forest Green Rovers.

“Chester notified both Forest Green and the Football Conference that they were unable to fulfil the fixture due to insufficient players being available,” read a statement from the Football Conference.

“The Football Conference will issue a further statement after their investigation into this matter is concluded.”

Could this be the end for a once proud football club.

Forest Green clash postponed without reason

Chester City’s clash away to Forest Green Rovers has been postponed without reason according to reports on the official website of hosts Forest Green Rovers FC.

The following statement appeared on the club’s official website just under an hour ago with rumours suggesting Chester City have been unable to field a team:

“09/02/2010 - Tonight’s match versus Chester City is off

Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Club was notified at 5.11pm that this evening’s Blue Square Premier fixture against Chester City has been called off.

The Club are taking steps to liaise with all our usual media contacts to notify them of the circumstances, however we would like to take this opportunity to apologise to all our Sponsors and Supporters for the late cancellation.”

Maison believes Chester City have turned the corner!!!!!

It could be that April fools day 2010 has arrived a couple of months early, or it could be the blinding view of Chester City FC’s owners!

Today’s high quality investigative reporting from the Chester Leader includes a quote from Morell Maison, who speaking after Saturday’s latest defeat, said he belives things are starting to turn around for Chester City Football Club behind the scenes.

“We are slowly starting to turn things around with the running of the football club,” explained Maison.

“One thing I would say though is that the problems that the club have faced recently didn’t start under the Vaughan family regime they have been here for a number of years going right back to when all the land was sold off.”

Chester attendances fall to a new low as new owners look less certain

Chester City’s attendance fell to a new low at the weekend with 460 people passing through the turnstyles.  Most of them were season ticket or complimentary tickets holders (press and players’ families etc).

Under the terms of the sale offer released by Chester City Football Club’s solicitors,, the club becomes even less likely to be sold, as more debts accrue with each passing day and week.

‘I can afford to run this football club for as long as I want to, with or without the fans’ was a famous quote made by Chester City’s owner Stephen Vaughan when interviewed by Chester City Mad back in 2005.  Well it looks like being without the fans, carry on digging Mr Vaughan!!!

Luton Town confirm they are not interested in former Chester City star Nick Chadwick

The Luton News has reported that Luton Town were not interested in signing Nick Chadwick from Chester City.  Speculation linking the Hatters with a missed bid for former Chester City striker Nick Chadwick are wide of the mark according to Luton Town director Antony Brown.

Press reports last week claimed that the 27-year-old former Everton forward had chosen Blue Square Premier rivals Barrow over the Hatters, but Brown has revealed that that wasn’t the case.

He said: “I’ve spoken to Nick’s agent over the last 18 months. He is a name that’s been thrown at us over the last 18 months but there was no real interest from us. Under no circumstances did we get to a position where we offered him a contract.”

The articles continues with a comment from Chester City Director of Football Morell Maison who explained: “ We are in a difficult situation, the fans have turned on the owners. It’s a massive challenge for me.”

1975 Classic Report – Recalling Chester’s first game in Division Three against Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace 2 Chester 0

Chester’s first taste of life in Division Three saw them beaten but by no means disgraced at Selhurst Park.  Goals just after the kick off and minutes before the final whistle meant that Chester’s historic first game in Division Three did not have a happy ending – but they gained plenty of respect.

In defence, and midfield they equalled anything that Palace had to offer, but it was up front, once more, where Chester were sadly lacking.  It was here where the difference between the sides was most maked.  Palace used Kemp and Swindlehurst as a powerful twin spearhead, but Derek Draper and Johnny James were never able to seriously trouble the home defence.

The Chester defence was in sound form – particularly Nigel Edwards, Tony Loska, Chris Dunleavy and Reg Matthewson, while the midfield was cleverly controlled by Ian Seddon.  Norman Whitehead, another player who enjoyed a fine start to the season, tried desperately to get things moving in attack, but he suffered from lack of support in midfield.

But despite their lack of fire power Chester contributed much to the game which did credit to the day’s top crowd in Division Three.  Skill and fluent attacking soccer were the keynotes of this game, and Chester certainly lived up to their reputation of not being a defensive side.  Even after the shock of an 11^th minute goal they never attempted to stifle the game by falling back on defence and were always willing to push forward.

It was certainly a tough test of Chester’s new status against a Palace side desperately anxious to return to Division Two in an effort to regain some of their former glory.  It was Palace who made the early running with some probing attacks, and at the same stage the Londoners’ flying winger, Peter Taylor looked like giving Loska an uncomfortable afternoon.

However, Loska settled down well to keep a tight grip on Selhurst favourite Taylor, and the Chester defender only marred his perfomance with a second half foul on Taylor, for which he was booked.  But it was Taylor who set up Palace’s opening goal.  He speculatively chased a ball which appeared to be going out of play and chipped a short cross into the middle.

Nick Chatterton pounced to sidefoot a shot under Grenville Millington’s body after the goalkeeper had been unsighted.  It was a bad blow for Chester and the many hundreds of fans who travelled to London to see history being made, although the side refused to become rattled by it.  A well devised 22^nd minute build up raised City’s hopes when the immaculate Edwards overlapped to take a ball from Seddon.  Edwards got in a neat cross which Tony Burns did well to cut out.

Seven minutes later, Peter Wall brought a spectacular save from Millington.  Wall moved up for a free kick and hit a fierce drive that Millington punched away in fine style.  Just before the interval, Draper managed to get in a header which Burns saved under the bar, and then a dipping cross from Whitehead rattled the Palace woodwork.

Immediately after the interval, Whitehead had two shots blocked, and then a cross from the same player almost caused Martin Hinshelwood to turn the ball into his own net.  Midway through the second period, Edwards, who had played the highly-rated Mick Hill out of the game, saved his side from going further behind.

Taylor created the danger with another short cross which beat Millington, and as Kemp slotted the ball towards the net Edwards completed a brilliant goal line clearance.  At this stage, Chester were pushing forward in depth and Palace were exploiting this with some quick breaks.  This was illustrated when Taylor darted away and Kemp’s shot was well saved by Millington.  However, with eight minutes remaining a similar ploy brought Palace their second goal.  A Chester raide broke down and Kemp quickly raced away.  His cross was headed down into the path of Swindlehurst who comfortably completed Palace’s victory.

Despite this opening setback, Chester can look forward to Division Three with confidence – if they can remedy their problem up front.

Chester FC: Millington, Edwards, Loska, Matthewson (Captain), Dunleavy, Seddon, Whitehead, Pugh, Draper, James and Lennard.  Subs: Mason.

 Referee: Mr A W Gray of Great Yarmouth

 Attendance: 13,098

Wrexham fans refuse to boycott Deva Derby clash

Wrexham fans won’t boycott this month’s Deva Stadium derby against rivals Chester City, according to the Supporters’ Trust.

Supporters’ group City Fans United are boycotting all Chester’s home games for the rest of the season, and are asking visiting teams’ fans to do the same.

The move is in protest against the club’s owner Stephen Vaughan Jr and the current regime.

City Fans United were also last night discussing going through a process of due diligence with a view to possibly launching a takeover of the club.

Chester’s players haven’t been paid for nearly three months, while the club faces a High Court date in march to avoid a winding-up petition.

With players leaving to join other clubs, Chester have been forced to play a number of youngsters.

They are still 20 points adrift at the bottom of the Blue Square Premier table after beginning the season with a 25-point deduction following the club going into administration last summer.

Haydn Jones of Wrexham Supporters’ Trust (WST) says Dragons fans have sympathy with the plight of their rivals.

However, he says the Trust won’t advocate boycotting the February 14 Blue Square Premier clash, and expects fans to attend the match as Dean Saunders’ side try to turn around their own ailing campaign.

Jones said: “We will be boycotting all Chester games – except the ones where Chester play Wrexham.

“We have huge sympathy with what’s going on at Chester and we hope they come out of it so we can keep our fixtures going some time in the future.

“It’s a match to look forward to, and I’m guessing people will still want to watch the match against their local rivals.”

With Chester so far behind at the bottom of the table, Jones says Wrexham fans will also be making the most of what could be their last chance to attend the cross-border derby.

He said: “Looking at the Blue Square Premier league table, it could be the last time we play them for some time.”

Jones acknowledges, however, that many Chester fans were supportive when Wrexham had off-field problems, including going into administration in 2004.

“When we had our troubles some Chester supporters were very supportive of us and we wish them all the best,” he said.

Some Wrexham fans have been sympathetic towards the idea of boycotting the derby, however, according to Jeff Banks of City Fans United.

Banks said: “We’d like support from all kinds of fans, not just Wrexham.

“Chester v Wrexham is a huge derby game, but this season it doesn’t feel like a derby because it doesn’t feel like a proper Chester team.”

He added: “Chester fans supported Wrexham when they had their problems, and we’ve had goodwill messages from Wrexham fans.

“Nothing would please us more than to see Wrexham fans boycott the game – Wrexham fans may want to put their own team first and we can understand that, but it would be nice to see them show solidarity with us.”

Report – Chester City 1 Ebbsfleet United 2

Kent based Ebbsfleet United became the latest Blue Square Premier club to extract an easy three points out of Chester City and in all honesty it could have been a lot worse for the Blues had it not have been for another outstanding display by City shot-stopper John Danby.  Danby pulled off a string of terrific saves to keep the scoreline down.

Despite his efforts, he couldn’t stop Magno Vieira’s from securing victory for the visitors with a couple of goals, but it all could have been different after Chester City took a first half lead.

Chester City fielded just nine senior players and made up the numbers with inexperienced youth team players.  Despite this they managed to carve out a gallant lead when Jack Rea fired home Lloyd Ellams’ cross.

But Vieira soon levelled for Ebbsfleet, shooting past Chester keeper John Danby from inside the area.

And the Brazilian put the visitors ahead before the break, doubling his tally with a close-range finish.

John Danby pulled off a string of fine saves in the second half as the visitors went all out to increase their advantage in front of a crowd of just over 400 supporters.

If you take away the season ticket holders and complementary tickets issued to the press and players’ families… not a lot of people payed out to watch this one!

Wrexham supporters to fund players wages?

Reports in the local press today suggest Chester City’s players are to be paid their outstanding wages shortly.  The Liverpool Daily Post reports the following quotes from Morell Maison:

“The players were paid a week’s wages last week. There are moves afoot to pay a months wages this week, and another months wages the following week, which would bring them up to date.

“The plans are there. The ball started to roll last week, and hopefully the club can keep it continuing this week.

“Money came in last week, and there is some stuff we are doing this week coming to fruition, and that should lead us nicely into next week. So there are moves afoot.”

It might just be a conincidence, but the Blues have also announced the sale of tickets for Chester City’s Blue Square Premier Derby clash with borderline rivals, Wrexham.  Could it be that the new “investments” coming into the club is actually the pre-match ticket sales expected from a bumper welsh following to this game?

Therefore, with Chester City supporters boycotting the blues, there’s a good chance Wrexham fans are actually financially keeping the Blues going by pumping their hard earned cash into the Deva Stadium club.  Hmm.  Thanks to all Wrexham fans for your continued support of the Blues!