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NEWS FROM DEVA STADIUM 1999
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APRIL 1999

30 April 1999
SUPPORTERS LAUNCH TRUST FUND
The ISA have announched that they are planning to set up a trust fund in a final effort to save the club which is only weeks away from folding. Mike Fair said: "We are going to launch a trust fund in an attempt to buy the club. The idea would be to form a community-based company and we are proposing to do something along those lines next week. The time for talking is finished. Something has got to happen and it has got to happen fast. We don’t want anybody outside of Chester getting their hands on this club. We are making a last minute appeal for people to join us in this endeavour." Representatives visited Dean Court to see the trust in action and insolvency practitioner Malcolm Niekirk, who handled the case, has already addressed an ISA meeting in Chester.

We are appealing to any business in Chester who can help NOW by donating money to the trust fund to contact Mike Fair on 01244 541281/0374 729802 or ISA chairman Mark Howell on 01244 375264.
DEADLINE DAY
Administrator David Acland must convince the Football League on May13 that City will be in a position to fulfil next season’s fixtures. Unless a buyer comes along in the next week or two that job will be almost impossible. Acland once again met representatives of the city-based consortium last week as the effort to sell the club gets critical. Acland told members at the ISA meeting last Monday that unless a last-minute buyer was forthcoming the club would be wound up by the end of May - it's that serious. It's time for the brinkmanship to stop and for people to start putting money where their mouths are. He added: "Unless the club can, through a funder or group of funders, prove that it is viable in the short, medium or long term, it won’t go into the computer for the fixtures next year. And the Football League computers start churning out at the end of May."
DAVIDSON DOUBT
Full back Ross Davidson is doubtful for City's final away game of the season at Darlington tomorrow, he is carrying a hamstring injury. Nick Richardson is expected to fill the full back role.

26 April 1999
ISA MEETING TONIGHT
The next members meeting of the ISA takes place on Monday 26 April at the Royal Mail Club, Station Road, Chester. Kick-off 19.30. The guest speaker is Grenville Millington. Administrator David Acland is expected to be present to bring members up to date with any information regarding a buyout.
PFA TEAM
The following is the Third Division representational voted for by the divisions players and announced at the PFA awards dinner last night.

John Hallworth (Cardiff City)
Mark Delaney (Cardiff City )
Paul Gibbs (Plymouth)
Chris Hope (Scunthorpe United)
Hermann Hreidarsson (Brentford)
Jason Fowler (Cardiff City)
Paul Evans (Brentford)
Jeff Minton (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Simon Davies (Peterborough)*
Matt Etherington (Peterborough)*
Jamie Forrester (Scunthorpe United)
Martin Butler (Cambridge United)
* Tied with equal votes

20 April 1999
FLITCROFT FINED
David Flitcroft has been given a warning and a nominal fine of £75 following a disciplinary hearing by the FA in Manchester. It was thought that Flitcroft, who has gained 11 bookings this season, may have been banned for the remainder of the season but that was not the case. "I am more than pleased with it because obviously he can carry on playing" added manager Kevin Ratcliffe after the hearing.
CROFTY'S BACK
Former player Brian Croft is back at the club. He has been appointed the clubs new Football In The Community officer as successor to John Kerr who left for a similar post at Shrewsbury Town.
VOTE NOW
It's that time of the year when your vote is needed for the Official Supporters Club Player of the Year. Please send your vote to Barrie Hipkiss, 2 Cop Cottage, Sealand Road, Chester CH1 4LY. Closing date is May 3.
WHERE'S JORG?
Those wondering where Dutch on-loan signing Jorg Smeets is, he is currently recovering from flu.

16 April 1999
NO CHANGES AT ROCHDALE
City have no injury worries for the short trip to Rochdale tomorrow and manager Kevin Ratcliffe is expected to name an unchanged team of: Brown, Davidson, Crosby, Woods, Cross; Flitcroft, Priest, Richardson, Fisher; Beckett, and Murphy.

BENNETT BACK IN TRAINING
Striker Gary Bennett has resumed light training after recovering from his life-saving surgery for a twisted bowel in January. Shaun Reid has also started on the comeback train with a game for the reserves at 2-1 win at Rochdale in the week. City's goals came from Darren Wright and Chris Blackburn.
TALKS CONTINUE?
Administrator David Acland has said he has done all he can now to sell the club Acland is still waiting to strike a deal with one of three interested parties. With just four games left this season time is running out and with ith most players up for contract in the summer, just who stays and who goes, will all depend on the sale of the club. Meanwhile ISA Press Spokesman Mike Fair has hit out as the takeover saga drags on: "We have to ask if people have been pulling the wool over our eyes just to keep the Independent Supporters Association propping the club up to the end of the season. Have we all been taken for a ride? It is about time we had some answers. The people of Chester deserve better than this. Why are the mystery buyers so silent and if they are really interested in buying the club why don’t they talk to the people who count? If someone would tell us what the problems are we may be able to help."
14 April 1999
PHYSIO TO LEAVE
City physio Stuart Walker is leaving the club. He is to take up a post with newly promoted Premier club Sunderland at the end of the season.

9 April 1999
ONE CHANGE FOR CITY
Mike Conroy in for the suspended John Murphy is the only change for City's trip to Hartlepool tomorrow. Meanwhile the home side will be without £25,000 signing Gary Strodder who is also suspended. Peter Beardsley is expected to play behind Pool's new front pair Chris Freestone and Gary Jones who were signed on transfer deadline day.
NO DEPOSIT
Administrator David Acland has confirmed that contrary to speculation he has so far received no deposit from any would-be buyer for the club
ALSFORD LEAVES
Defender Julian Alsford who had been playing on a weekly contract at Chester has left to play in Hong Kong for six months.
7 April 1999
MURPHY SUSPENDED
Striker John Murphy misses this Saturday's league game at Hartlepool with a one match ban.
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