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It started with a murmur… after a nil-nil result for caretaker player-manager captain Tim Ryan (you know I enjoyed typing that), the player spoke of his future plans: “I’d love to stop playing as I enjoy being on the side line,” said Ryan without any irony.

 
“I enjoy coaching and it’s something I want to do in the future.
“Whether now is the time I don’t know. But if I’m playing Saturday and not managing I’ll give my all as captain.”

Not content to do anything by halves, Chester City’s board appointed the ex-Morecambe manager who has been without a job since being sacked from his Forest Green job for a “serious breach of contract”.
 
City’s eleventh boss in 8 years will take on the aforementioned Ryan as his number Two.

Harvey, who had a brief spell as Chester’s youth coach, was strongly linked with Cambridge United in the summer.

He was sacked by Forest Green in August for a “serious breach of contract”, after being strongly linked with the summer vacancy at Cambridge United.

But his first job in management at Morecambe lasted 12 years, ending only because of a heart attack in 2006.

An upbeat Harvey spoke to the press: “It’s a challenge when you’re not working – so from that point of view I’m glad to be back working again,
“I’m under no illusions – this is going to be a tough job. Certainly with the points deduction, it’s not going to make it any easier.”
“To be actually out working and working with a team again will be great.”

  

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Chester City FC Blue Square Premiership Result

Saturday 10th October 2009
 
Chester City 0 – 1 Rushden & Diamonds
                                   (Tomlin 4)

A very early goal from Lee Tomlin spoilt Jim Harvey’s opening game as Chester’s new boss.

Chester tried, with both Mark Beesley and Greg Blundell shooting off-target.

However City’s chances were pretty much done for when first Glenn Rule was sent off on sixty minutes followed by Nick Chadwick on seventy-seven for violent conduct.

After the match, Jim Harvey talked his new team up: “There was plenty of effort and commitment.
“On occasions, some of the football and the way we moved it through midfield was very good. It was encouraging.
“As we didn’t create that many chances, I don’t think they created that many chances either.
“Rushden are one of the stronger teams in the league and I would think in another three or four weeks’ time we’ll be quite happy to play against a Rushden.”


Chester City FC: played 15, won 2, drawn 7, lost 6, GD -8, points -13, position 24th
 

 

 

 

 

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Monday the 12th October saw Chester City Football Club announce that they would no longer be appealing against their points deduction, as they cannot afford to fight to get the 15-point penalty back.

New chairman Ian Anderson said: “If we were strong financially, I’d say let’s spend £100,000 and take on the appeal.
“But the money now needs to stay in Chester City Football Club.”

Days later on the 15th a new group, formed by Chester City fans, came forward with hopes to safeguard the future of the Club.

The new City Fans United (CFU) is a merger of Chester City Supporters Trust and the Independent Supporters Association.

CFU chairman Michael Poole said: “The club almost went bust in August and we weren’t ready to step in. If it happens again, we hope to have the money to buy it.
“Our Plan A is for the owner, the board and the whole club to get its act together and start to work with fans, the local community and the council.
We don’t want to go head to head with anybody at the club. There have been mistakes made in the past but we cannot change that – we want to look to the future”

A day later and Jim Harvey made more moves in the loan market: Barnsley striker Michael Coulson has come in on a one-month loan.

Blackburn Rovers reserve defender Johnny Flynn is to come in on a similar loan deal.

Following the return of Mark Beesley to the Deva last week, that takes Harvey’s signings to three in the 10 days since his appointment.
 

Chester City FC Blue Square Premiership Result

Saturday 17th October 2009
 
Gateshead 0 – 1 Chester City FC
                                   (Beesley 56)
 
In his second start since his return to Chester Football Club, striker Mark Beesley gets his first goal and his club gets their first away win of the campaign.

City hung on following the goal ten minutes into the second half, although ex-Chester player Daryl Clare came close to draw Gateshead level.

City almost went in front in the first minute when Anthony Barry’s shot was tipped over, as was an attempt by Beesley.

However, but for Clare’s efforts, Gateshead didn’t have that much to trouble the visitors. It now means that Chester City have achieved a double this season over the North East team.

It also means that City’s only away defeat so far was the one against Blue Square Premier favourites Oxford United.

A happy Jim Harvey praised matchwinner Mark Beesley: “Mark’s very intelligent and he can find space well.
“He uses his intelligence and linked up with Anthony Barry and Clark Keltie. Some of the football was top draw.

 

 

 

 

Chester City FC FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifier Result

Saturday 24th October 2009
 
Barrow 1 – 1 Chester City FC
 (Rutherford )  (Flynn 16)

Chester old boy Paul Rutherford forces an FA Cup fourth qualifying round replay, scoring Barrow’s equaliser.

Chester City looked on course for the first round after Johnny Flynn opened the scoring after quarter of an hour, and despite going close a few times Barrow had to wait until halfway through the second half to get back.
 
And they could have nicked all three points but for a bad, late miss by Jon Shaw.

Chester had their share of decent openings before the Barrow leveller, loanees Mark Beesley and Michael Coulson both wasting their chances.
 
A content manager Jim Harvey said: “We had to dig in and we did. For half an hour of the second half we were on top,
“We wanted the win, but it didn’t happen. There are still a lot of positives I can take.”

Chester City FC Blue Square Premiership Result

Tuesday 22nd September 2009
 
Salisbury City FC 1 – 1 Chester City
  (Clohessy 81)                (Wilkinson 79) 

Wasteful Chester City still wait for an away win after an insipid match at Salisbury.

Kevin Roberts had already missed two chances before setting up Ben Wilkinson for his third goal of the season with only ten minutes left.

But the home teams’s Sean Clohessy levelled just two minutes later.

Chester City keeper John Danby was forced off, replaced by summer signing Andrew Murphy.

After the match, manager Mick Wadsworth spoke of his teams resilience to BBC Radio Merseyside:“Not getting beat is a really good habit,
“We may not have the best group and the most talented of group by definition but I couldn’t ask any more from them.
“It shows that we’re resilient and it shows that we are tough.
“We felt we should have won the game at Altrincham, Eastbourne and tonight against Salisbury. They are games we could and should have won.”
 
Chester City FC: played 11, won 2, drawn 4, lost 5, GD -6, position 24th, points -15

Chester City FC Blue Square Premiership Result

Sunday 27th September 2009
 
Wrexham AFC 0 – 0 Chester City
 
Local pride is all Chester could take from this derby, along with a point in their fourth draw in five visits to the Racecourse.

A bright start saw the visitors’ Nick Chadwick having a goal disallowed in the first minute, with the referee deciding he had fouled Wrexham keeper Chris Maxwell.

Chester City striker Gregg Blundell then had his headed chance saved, and Mansour Assoumani could have nicked all three points for Wrexham at the end, but his shot went high.
 

This scrappy game is Chester’s fifth draw on the bounce this season, and saw four players getting carded, including on-loan debutant Clark Kieltie.

 

Chester City FC Blue Square Premiership Result

Tuesday 29th September 2009
 
Chester City 1 – 2 Forest Green Rovers
  (Roberts 50)         (Platt 18, Rigg 37)

 

 

  He had a few things to say about his former employers when he spoke to BBC Radio Merseyside after Tuesday night’s defeat: “The club is in poor shape and it needs to be steadied to allow it to get into safer waters.
“It has a battle ahead, and I thought I was the man to take it forward, but I wish it well for the future.” 
 
City’s number two Simon Davies, who had an eight-month spell in charge last year, has also left. In the two men’s stead will come defender Tim Ryan and physio Billy Gerrard to take charge of the team for Saturday’s trip to Hayes & Yeading.
 
Speaking on Tuesday after their latest game, Wadsworth described Chester City Football Club in pessimistic terms: “I’ve not known an environment like it,
“This place is full of negativity and it’s really difficult.
“It’s so negative at times it’s very worrying.”
 

Owner Stephen Vaughan is now looking for his tenth manager since he took over charge of Chester City FC in October 2001, after (deep breath):

Steve Mungall: 8 Oct – 26 Dec 01,
Mark Wright: 9 Jan 02 – 6 Aug 04,
Ian Rush: 30 Aug 04 – 5 Apr 05,
Keith Curle: 2 May 05 – 19 Feb 06,
Mark Wright: 21 Feb 06 – 30 Apr 07,
Bobby Williamson: 11 May 07 – 2 Mar 08,
Simon Davies: 2 Mar – 11 Nov 08,
Mark Wright: 11 Nov 08 – 22 June 09,
and now
Mick Wadsworth: 29 June – 30 Sept 09.

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Chester City FC Blue Square Premiership Result

Saturday 3rd October 2009
 
Hayes & Yeading 0 – 0 Chester City

Managerless Chester City FC make it six away draws on the trot, against a Hayes & Yeading side who ended the match with nine men.

Rambir Marwa was sent off for United after 35 minutes, and then Scott Fitzgerald got a second yellow in the 74th.

It was a poor game without many chances, although in the first half Chester City’s Anthony Barry hit the bar and Hayes’ forward skyed a penalty.

In the second half Gregg Blundell headed over for the visitors, and after the second dismissal the home side almost stole all three points but for Tom Cadmore heading wide.

Caretaker manager Tim Ryan was himself suspended for the meeting, which leaves City 21 points behind Hayes and Yeading in the league and 24 points from safety.

 Chester City FC: played 14, won 2, drawn 6, lost 6, GD -7, position 24th, points -13

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Chester City’s next match is on Saturday 10th October against Rushden & Diamonds at Deva Stadium.

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Check out the home and away fixtures for Chester City Football Club’s 2009/10 season:

Chester City FC Fixtures 2009 – 2010 

 Read more about: Chester City FC

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Manager Mick Wadsworth’s task is getting no easier, with three more players leaving the club: the two Vaughan brothers, Stephen and James, and an injured Lewis Alessandra returning to loan-club Oldham.

Chester City FC Blue Square Premiership Result

 

Saturday 12th September 2009
 
Eastbourne Borough FC 1 – 1 Chester City
  (Atkin 5)                                (Blundell 45pen)

Chester City claim their third draw in four away games with a disputed penalty from Gregg Blundell.
 
It was Chester’s first-ever visit to Langney Sports Club, and Eastbourne took the lead inside five minutes when Andy Atkin punished a poor back-pass from Kevin Roberts.
 
But the visitors drew level in stoppage time at the end of the first-half, with Blundell taking a penalty that Neil Ashton had won.
 
Two unhappy Eastbourne players were booked for protesting the penalty decision.
 
City keeper John Danby made a couple of important saves in the first half, and Eastbourne almost won it when Atkin had a chance with ten minutes to go, but his shot hit the post.
 
Boss Mick Wadsworth told BBC Radio Merseyside that the going was tough: “What we need to do now is get some wins. It’s going to be tough but it’s a challenge we all relish.”
 
Chester City FC: played 8, won 1, drawn 3, lost 4, GD -6, position 24th, points -19

Chester City FC Blue Square Premiership Result

 

Tuesday 15th September 2009
Chester City 2 – 1 Gateshead FC
(Blundell 19pen,      (Mackay 51)
   Chadwick 76)
 
A second penalty in as many games for Greg Blundell, as Chester clinch a second win for the season.
 
Gateshead defender James Curtis was sent off after he brought Blundell down in the box, and the resulting penalty put City ahead into the break.
 
Just five minutes after the restart, Gateshead’s Mike Mackay pulled the visitors equal, but Nick Chadwick headed in Neil Ashton’s cross to secure all three points, and was his fourth goal in seven games.
 
A relieved Mick Wadsworth said after the match: “We conjured up a super goal, it’s a great goal to win the game with.
“It was good bit of football. We went in and out, it was a good cross in and a good header by Chadwick.
“It was a really difficult header and he’s done really well.”
 
Chester City FC: played 9, won 2, drawn 3, lost 4, GD -5, position 24th, points -16

Chester City FC Blue Square Premiership Result

Saturday 19th September 2009

Chester City 0 – 1 Stevenage Borough
                               (Bostwick 7)
 
A poor home display leaves Chester still struggling as Stevenage go second.
 
A Michael Bostwick volley was all that the visitors needed, as Stevenage went ahead in the seventh minute.
 
It could have been two goals by the break, but Charlie Griffin headed onto the post.
 
Nick Chadwick had a header saved, as Chester vainly tried to make chances to get back into the game, but it was all for nought.

Chester City FC: played 10, won 2, drawn 3, lost 5, GD -6, position 24th, points -16

Check out the home and away fixtures for Chester City Football Club’s 2009/10 season:

Chester City FC Fixtures 2009 – 2010 

 Read more about: Chester City FC

 

Now the Gateshead Football Club website has just announced that the game scheduled at Deva Stadium has also been ‘postponed’.

It seems that the decision as to whether Chester City should be allowed to continue in the Blue Square Premier Conference League has been put out to the vote.

So far, it is reported that all 23 of the clubs have unanimously agreed to permit Chester City FC to play starting with the Gateshead game but, as ever, the confirmation of the FA’s decision is pending.

Reported most recently from the Gateshead Football Club website is that the FA have advised that tomorrow’s game should be postponed for now.

With the other Blue Square team’s backing the Conference is due to meet, yet again, with the Football Association on Thursday for further discussions on the matter.

Hopefully then a final decision can be announced….

Breaking News from Chester City Football Club – Press Release – 10th August 2009

 

Gateshead Football Club Website News

Stephen Vaughan chose to put Chester City FC into voluntary administration on 17th May when relegation became confirmed.

The meeting between Chester City FC and Refresh Recovery is due to take place at 11am today at the Deva Stadium to discuss the severity of debts, creditors and any offers received to buy the club.

It has been suggested that Chester City FC’s debts may be more than £7 million.

It is though that at today’s meeting Stephen Vaughan will try to buy back Chester City FC as a limited company. A limited company deal would mean that any future responsibility of a slide into insolvency would fall to the shareholders but only to the limit of their original investment.

With Stephen Vaughan already in place as the major shareholder and creditor he has loans of £4 million. In this step to buy back Chester City FC he is offering to surrender monies owed to him in a bid to save the club.

If Refresh Recovery accept this Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) Chester City FC then faces the Football Conference AGM on Saturday 13th June. At this meeting it will be confirmed whether they will be accepted into the Conference League for next season.

For full details of the offer to be made read more at Chester Chronicle whilst we wait with baited breath for the result of today’s meeting between the creditors and Chester City FC.

Chester City FC continues their run of bad luck for 2008/9 season with the announcement that the Club has taken the decision to enter voluntary administration.

What does this mean for the club?

Not only have Chester City FC lost their spot in Coca-Cola League Two but now face starting the 2009/10 season with a ten point deduction adding to the misery.

Chester City FC is not alone in this fate, joining Southampton who may suffer the same penalty at the bottom of the Coca-Cola Football League Championship. Southampton FC is desperately looking for a buyer to try and deflect a catastrophic slide into administration.

Luton Town FC faced the beginning of the 2008/9 season with a deficit of ten points deducted for issues with their financial status. Upon Luton Town FC following the incorrect procedure, and as a result not following the insolvency rules instilled by the Football League, a further twenty points were deducted from the team. Luton Town FC began the season thirty points down.

Luton Town FC played a good season and without the thirty points deduction would now be sitting comfortably in the middle of the Coca-Cola League Two table. Unfortunately for fans they have been unable to come back from such a devastating penalty and face relegation, alongside Chester City FC, to the Blue Square Premier Conference Division.

This rule in football came to my attention in 2007 when Leeds went into administration. Leeds played football well enough to maintain their status as a member of the Coca-Cola Football League Championship League only to be forced into relegation by the ten point penalty being awarded. This did mean, however, that they were able to start the new season with a clean slate and Leeds was lucky enough to ‘rearrange’ their financial situation.

The fear is that that others will follow in the footpath of Chester City FC and Southampton FC with the current financial climate influencing not only sponsorship capabilities of associated companies but also the fans cash available for season tickets, match days and merchandise.

A statement has been issued by Martin Shaw, the accountant who will handling the situation for Chester City FC, along with the insolvency company Refresh Recovery Limited which said:

“Supporters can be assured that our aim is to find a new owner for the club, so that professional football continues to be played in Chester from the start of the new season.”

A second statement issued by Stephen Vaughan, Chester City FC’s major shareholder stated:  

“I can assure Chester City supporters that it has been done in the best interests of the club.”

Let us know your thoughts at Directory of Chester.