Latest news from Deva Stadium

31 March 2010
EXILES RAISE MONEY FOR CFU
The Exiles raised the grand sum of £1,112.13p with a bucket collection at last night’s Conference match between AFC Wimbledon and Wrexham. Thanks to all at AFC Wimbledon for allowing the Exiles to organise the collection, and to fans from both clubs, and a few neutrals as well, for their generous donations and good wishes throughout the night. All money raised will go to CFU to help their campaign to bring a community football back to the City in August.

25 March 2010
FANS HAVE THEIR SAY

Chester FC was the overwhelming choice of supporters for the name of the new football club hoping to be launched for next season by City Fans United.

CFU press officer Jeff Banks said: “It’s been great to see so many fans having the chance to rename the club, and as the voting shows, the fans want to go back to the name Chester Football Club. Now we can well and truly prepare our club for the future, but carrying an important piece of history with us.”

The name polled 70% of the vote held by CFU over the last few days and sees the new club revert back to the name of the club before the City was added in 1983. The result of the voting was as follows:

Chester FC – 887 votes (70%)
City of Chester FC – 196 votes (16%)
FC Chester – 110 votes (9%)
Chester Rovers FC – 68 votes (5%)

COUNCIL SET DEADLINE
A 25 day deadline has been set by Cheshire West and Chester Council for those interested in running a football club out of Deva Stadium to submit their intentions by 19 April.

Council leader Mike Jones said: “We will obviously have to examine the business case of anyone interested in running a club at the Deva Stadium before making a decision on a new tenant, and we are running out of time to undertake this process. This authority is willing to talk to anyone with the best interests of Chester and football at heart, and a good business case to support their aspirations.”

18 March 2010
YOUR CHANCE TO NAME THE CLUB
The phone lines are now open for supporters to vote on the name of the new CFU phoenix club. A shortlist of four names has been drawn up from suggestions sent in to the organisation. They are:

1. Chester FC
2. City of Chester FC
3. Chester Rovers FC
4. FC Chester

To register your vote please call 0800 050 1254 and listen to the instructions given by non other than former Chester hero Grenville Millington.

Calls are free from a landline but a charge will apply to mobiles. Only one vote can be made per phone number. The lines will close at 23:00hrs on 23 March. Postal votes are being accepted but must be received by last post on 23 March.

Postal votes should be sent to:
City Fans United name Vote, PO Box 3170, Chester CH4 8WP.

The result will be revealed in next week’s Chester Chronicle.

CFU chairman, Chris Pilsbury said: “We are starting as we mean to go on. Opening up the naming of our reformed club to the whole community is a signal of intent. This Club will belong to the people of Chester and everyone should have the chance to have their say.”

COUNCIL REGAIN STADIUM CONTROL

The keys to Deva Stadium are back in the hands of Cheshire West and Chester Council after they were handed over by administrators to its property management service. With the ground now secure the Council is inviting interested parties who want to promote a community club in Chester to come forward. City Fans United, whose membership now stands at 1,000+ full and junior members, have already submitted an application for a new club licence with the Football Association and have held talks with Council leaders over their aspirations for a new club at the heart of the community.

Council leader Mike Jones said: “At least, due to our determined efforts, the ground is back in council control. I am delighted this has taken place so quickly because it now allows meaningful discussions, obviously not possible under different circumstances. We are prepared to talk to anyone seriously interested in maintaining a football team in Chester with a good business case to support their aspirations.”

13 March 2010
RUSH SAD AT BLUES DEMISE

Former player and manager Ian Rush has told of his sorrow at the winding-up of the football club last week. He told the Wales on Sunday newspaper: “I feel very sorry for the way things have gone because Chester is a club with great tradition and we would all love to see them back in the league once more.”

And Wrexham fan and former Wales international Robbie Savage was also saddened to hear of the demise of rivals Chester but hoped a phoenix club could be formed, he said:

“Even as a Wrexham lad, I’m gutted to see Chester City going out of business. I’ve been to a few Chester v Wrexham derbies and they’re always a big buzz. It’s a rivalry based on pure hatred. There were 8,000 there last time and I know the Wrexham fans will be as sad as anyone to see those big days disappear as their arch-enemies drop out of the Conference. Good luck to the people who are trying to revive the club from scratch.”

11 March 2010
COUNCIL LOOK TO TAKE STADIUM CONTROL
The Council will be looking to evict the current tenants following yesterday’s winding-up of the club. Late or non-payment of the rent has been the norm at Deva Stadium over the last few years.

Council leader Mike Jones told the Chester Chronicle: “In one respect today�s High Court decision is a sad day for football in Chester. In another, it could herald the start of an exciting new beginning. We are in the process of taking action to secure the imminent return of the stadium to our control.”

City Fans United (CFU) are now hopeful of setting up a Phoenix Club using Deva Stadium as their home. The supporters group has near to 1,000 members and have held preliminary talks with council leaders and are submitting a business plan for the future of professional football in the city. The level at which a new club could enter the League is as yet unknown. It may be as high as the Unibond North/South or as low as the North West Counties League.

Councilor Jones continued: “We are prepared to examine all options put to us to secure the future of football in Chester providing they are accompanied by a sustainable business case. We are looking to develop football at the Deva Stadium hopefully with a significant community aspect involved. Ideally, we would like to see the Deva as the hub of a ‘football in the community’ project which reached our young people at every age range.”

10 March 2010
CLUB WOUND UP

Rumours of a last-ditch tax payment proved unfounded as Chester City Football Club (2004 Ltd) were this morning wound-up in the High Court in London. The club had no representation in court for the brief one minute hearing. Former Chester manager Jim Harvey was represented by a barrister in court who supported the petition. An official receiver will now be appointed to recover what he can for the creditors from the club’s remaining assets.

A statement from the Football Association said: “The FA notes today’s decision of the High Court in relation to Chester City. The winding-up of any club is a loss to the game and in particular to the supporters of that club. In order to maintain a senior football club in the city of Chester, The FA will welcome applications if the club wishes to reform. Any such applications will be considered by The FA’s Leagues Committee.”

The hard work of starting a community based Phoenix Club through the CFU, and hopefully with the support of the local council and business, now continues.

• Guardian report with supporter quotes

COURT APPEARANCE FOR CITY
Once again the football club will make an appearance in Court 76 of the High Courts of Justice in London this morning as the HMRC look to wind-up the company for non payment of tax. The amount in question is £26,125. The case was first heard on 27 January when the club stated they were considering a CVA and an adjournment of 42 days was given. With the club thrown out of the Football Conference and no income since, the winding-up of the club seems inevitable.

9 March 2010
YOUTH TEAM RESULTS EXPUNGED
The Youth Team have had all their matches and results from this season’s Football League Youth Alliance North West Conference expunged following their resignation from the league. The team were last in action last week when they beat Accrington Stanley 3-2.

• Youth fixtures | Table

8 March 2010
BLUES FAIL TO APPEAL AGAINST DECISION
Chester have failed to appeal against the process of their expulsion from the Football Conference after last Friday’s deadline for an appeal came and went. The club had indicated they would be contesting the decision but Conference Chairman Brian Lee told the Non-League Paper “They kept changing their minds.” Details of City’s matches for this season are now expunged from the records and the league table adjusted.

Conference statement
“The Football Conference announce Chester City (2004) FC, having not lodged any appeal in respect of their removal from the competition, have had their playing record expunged with immediate effect.”

“A new calculated table is being circulated via the Press Association this afternoon as the official record to be used by all the media and member clubs from this date.”

“Due to the fact that all goals involved in those matches played to date are also expunged, it means that those players having scored goals in matches against Chester City in the Blue Square Premier also see them expunged from the record books.”

“This is to maintain fairness and consistency in relation to the player winning the ‘Golden Boot’ award at the end of the season in the Blue Square Premier. Goals scored in FA Cup or FA Trophy ties are not so affected and will remain in those competitions.”

• New Conference table

COURT DATE LOOMS
Chester City FC (2004 Ltd) are back in the High Court on Wednesday as they face a winding up order from HMRC. The amount of money owed is �26,125. Adding to the Vaughan Family woes is the news that the Council may seek to evict the club from Deva Stadium over late payments of rent.

3 March 2010
PLAYERS LOOKING TO MOVE ON

Two players have been linked with moves to other clubs following City’s expulsion from the Football Conference last week. Youngster James Owen, who left the club several weeks ago, looks set to join former Blues Gregg Blundell and Nick Chadwick at Barrow. Another player who came through the youth ranks, Shaun Kelly (pictured), looks set to have trials with Port Vale.

Since this report Kelly has joined Burton Albion until the end of the season.

Picture © Evening Leader

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