News from Deva Stadium April 2018

19 April 2018
OVER 80 APPLICANTS FOR MANAGERS JOB
Chester are looking to have a new manager in place before the final game at Barrow a week on Saturday. Over 80 applicants with a variety of experience have applied for the position vacated following Marcus Bignot's sacking last week. Those who are on record expressing their interest in the job include former Crewe Alexandra and Leyton Orient manager Steve Davis and Runcorn Town duo Chris Herbert and Mark McGregor. Interviews will be held shortly and the club will be assisted by two former Football League managers during the interview process.

FINAL HOME MATCH
Chester entertain Maidstone United in their final home match of the season on Saturday, kick-off 15.00hrs. Caretaker manager Calum McIntyre has hinted he will hand a full debut to Nathan Brown for the match. Brown scored the winning goal against Bromley recently from the substitutes bench and like James Jones and Tom Crawford has progressed from the youth ranks this season.

Dominic Vose, Gary Roberts and Liam Dawson are all set to miss the match while on-loan Bournemouth defender Shaun Hobson has returned to his parent club after making 13 appearances for the Blues.

WOOD PROVE TOO STRONG FOR CHESTER
Boreham Wood proved to strong for Chester on Saturday running out 4-2 winners at Meadow Park. Calum McIntyre took charge of first team affairs for the day making just one change from the side that beat Bromley with James Jones replacing the injured Andy Halls. McIntyre, at 24 the youngest manager in the clubs history, had two of his academy backroom team in Martin Farley and Paul Kelly helping him on the bench.

The Blues fell behind early on with Bruno Andrade’s deflected shot beating Firth after a quick counter attack. Chester had created several good chances before Wood doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time as James Akintunde conceded a penalty following a foul on Kane Smith, Andrade converted the spot-kick.

Morgan Ferrier walked through the Blues rearguard to add a third on the hour mark giving Firth no chance from close range. A fine through ball from Tom Crawford set up Akintunde who coolly pulled a deserved goal back on 74 minutes.

With the game entering stoppage time Ricky Shakes added a fourth for the home side, shooting in off the crossbar before Akintunde scored again from a similar position as his first to add a second consolation goal and end an entertaining match.

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

12 April 2018
BIGNOT SACKED
Manager Marcus Bignot has been sacked by Chester with three matches left in the season, youth team manager Calum McIntyre will take charge of the first team for the remaining fixtures. City Fans United chairman, David Harrington-Wright said: “We know that this has been the toughest season for Chester FC fans to endure since the reformation of the club in 2010, and following the board’s decision last week to not renew Marcus’s contract beyond the end of the season, we see little value in him remaining in the position. On behalf of the board of directors, I thank him for all his efforts and wish him the very best in the future.”

YOUTH TEAM REACH FINAL
The youth team beat Boreham Wood Blues 4-1 yesterday to reach the final of the U19 National League Alliance Cup. Chester led at the break through a Dion Jones goal. Cain Noble doubled the lead two minutes into the second period and further goals from Iwan Murray and a second from Noble gave them a commanding lead. The visitors pulled a goal back 16 minutes from tme but Chester saw out the match and will now face FC Halifax Town in the final at Walsall on Wednesday 16th May.

9 April 2018
YOUTH SEMI-FINAL
The Youth Team host Boreham Wood U19s on Wednesday afternoon in the semi-final of the National League Alliance Cup. The game takes place at The Cheshire Sports Club on Mannings Lane North, and will kick off at 14.00hrs. Support for the young players would be greatly appreciated as they attempt to reach the final of a National cup for the first time. Should the youth team win then the final is at Walsall FC on Wednesday 16th May.

8 April 2018
BLUES RELEGATION CONFIRMED
Chester’s miserable season ended with relegation to the Conference North on Saturday. The Blues were beaten at home by Tranmere Rovers and Solihull’s late winner at Hartlepool United sealed their fete. Relegation brings to an end their five year reign at the top level of non-league. Manager Marcus Bignot, who leaves his role at the club next month, believes that another relegation could follow soon unless more football experience is brought into the club at board level. He held a candid interview with the press following Saturday’s defeat.

“The players haven’t been good enough at times, I haven’t been good enough at times, together we haven't been good at times.”

“But fans need answers. Even if I’m not here I’ve always worked in terms of how can I help the football club. I’ve presented to them in terms of anytime they football working group wants to call on my experience, playing and management - that has never happened. I just want to help the football club. It's not about me, I'll be ok. It hurts, I want to be the manager here and I won't get that opportunity. If they don't want my experience then that’s fine, but when you have got Neil Young in the building, I am frustrated.”

“The most worrying thing for me is that we have lost Neil Young this week and he was offering his services for free. We weren’t paying him and we lost him, and we need football people at this football club.”

“I have been relegated as a player and if my management career can mirror my playing career then I will die a happy man. This club is at a crossroads and going into the Conference North won’t solve the problems, it will only magnify them.”

“There has to be some real decisions made, not just good people but the right people. There’s a load of good people and there’s a lot of good work going on, the academy, the community. It’s unbelievable and the volunteers every day are absolutely superb, but when it comes to first team, there is absolutely a lack, and I mean lack, of experience at first team level.”

“My outcome has been decided. But how does it look moving forward? Those questions have to be answered. I have been relegated as a player and if my management career can mirror my playing career then I will die a happy man. This club is at a crossroads and going into the Conference North won’t solve the problems, it will only magnify them.”

“My outcome has been decided. But how does it look moving forward? Those questions have to be answered. If you are asking me now there will be another relegation on this football club’s CV if it is not careful. This is really a defining moment. Altrincham and Hyde spring to mind.”

“I get the feeling, the apathy around the place that there will be another relegation coming and we have got to stop it and we have got to stop it now. I’m speaking on behalf of the players. They have never had a board member come down to speak to them in my tenure to explain the situation. It affects them as well and it is their livelihoods - and that is a huge disappointment.”

Chester are back in action on Tuesday night with the visit of Bromley, kick-off 19.45hrs.

• Latest table

5 April 2018
YOUNG LEAVES CHESTER
Former manager Neil Young has left his voluntary advisory role at Chester after a short spell at the club. A club statement read: “We would like to thank Neil for his time and advice whilst back at the Swansway Chester Stadium – and wish him the very best in the future.”

3 April 2018
BOARD MEMBERS RESIGN
Chairman Simon Olorenshaw and board member Mark Howell have resigned from the board with immediate effect. Both were co-opted onto the board in January this year following revelations of the club’s financial plight that saw supporters raise £100,000 to keep the club going. It was Olorenshaw’s second sting in the chair having held the position in 2016. Howell was also a member of the CFU board when the club was reformed back in 2010.

DEFEAT FOR BLUES
Despite a markedly improved performance from the home defeat against Torquay on Friday, Chester were beaten 1-0 at Macclesfield Town on Easter Monday. The only goal of the game came in the 53rd minute with Danny Whitehead scoring from lose range. Chester had earlier see James Akintunde and Harry White have chances to score and late in the game Macc ‘keeper Shwan Jalal denied White and James Jones an equaliser with a series of fine saves.

Chester are next in action on Saturday when they have an all-ticket home match against Tranmere Rovers, kick-off 15.00hrs.

• Table after Macclesfield defeat

2 April 2018
BIGNOT TO DEPART IN MAY
Manager Marcus Bignot will leave the club in May when his current contract expires. Bignot was appointed in September 2017 and has won five of his 33 games in charge, losing 33 as Chester lie second from bottom of the league and face certain relegation to the Conference North.

A statement from the club said: “The board want to place on record their thanks to Marcus for remaining professional. This season has been an extremely tough one to endure for each and every Chester FC supporter. It has also been a challenging environment for Marcus to be involved with. The board wishes to emphasise that we understand the frustrations of all concerned.”

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