City chairman Steve Vaughan is having talks with an as yet unnamed group of Dubai businessmen who are interested in investing in the club.

The buisiness men see Chester as an opportunity to enter the English football market, learn coaching techniques and perhaps progress players through the system. City chairman Steve Vaughan has stated they they would take no part in the running of the club but would wish to place two people on the board at the Deva.

Vaughan told the Daily Post: “The group of businessmen see us as a progressive club which has developed impressively, and they also see marketing and reciprocal coaching opportunities with Chester City. The Gulf States are virtually an untapped market as far as English football is concerned, and the gentlemen would also like to see coaches coming over to learn from our methods, as well as a possible junior player progression in the future.”

Steve Vaughan has indicated that Chester are interested in 22-year-old Everton defender Peter Clarke. Clarke began as a trainee at Goodison Park in 1988 and has made 10+4 appearances for the Toffees.

He has had loan spells at Blackpool (16+0, 3 goals), Port Vale (10+0, 1 goal) and Coventry City (5+0) over the last three seasons. Clarke is an England u-12 International and Vaughan stated: “We have contacted Everton about Peter’s availability, and if we receive a positive reaction we will take the matter further.”

A second-half header from striker Daryl Clare, in his first appearance of the summer, brought City victory at Colwyn Bay and extended the pre-season run to three wins in three matches. The Blues fielded a strong starting line-up with, apart from Wayne Brown, a selection of reserves on the bench. The only goal of the game came on 56 minutes as Clare headed home a McIntyre cross from a corner after trialist Mike Sheron’s shot had been pushed out for the flag-kick.

Clare is currently the speculation of transfer approaches by three clubs, believed to include his former employers Boston United and ambitious Nationwide South side Hornchurch. City chairman Steve Vaughan has stated that: “As far as I am concerned, Daryl is not for sale at any price, but out of courtesy to the player, Mark (Wright) and I will discuss the situation.” City fans will no doubt be anxious that the Blues can hold on to their main striker who has scored almost a goal a game in his 50+3 appearances for City.

City’s pre-season form continued at Deva Stadium last night with a 2-0 win over Championship League side Cardiff City. Once again City gave trials to Mike Sheron, Kevin Ellison and Stuart Roberts and also included Burnley midfielder Paul Weller in the starting line-up. It was Sheron who gave City the lead on the stroke of half-time with a superb 25-yarder that gave Margetson in the Bluebirds goal no chance.

Manager Mark Wright rung the changes at half-time sending out a different X1 (with the exception of Kevin McIntyre, again having a very good game), though injuries to Cortez Belle and Darryn Stamp meant that Danny Collins and Sean Hessey returned off the bench later in the game. City doubled their lead on 69 minutes with a deflected shot from Michael Branch following a short corner.

Once again the Blues kept a clean sheet, with Robert Earnshaw having the visitors best chance in the first half, and Thorn late on with a header for the Bluebirds.

City are in action next tomorrow night when they take a side to play at UniBond League First Division side Colwyn Bay, kick-off 19:30hrs.

Blues fans will take encouragement from Saturday’s opening pre-season victory over League One side Walsall at Deva Stadium. Manager Mark Wright gave a run-out to four trialist’s; Kevin Ellison, Mike Sheron, Peter Handyside and Stuart Roberts and it was the first of these, Ellison, who headed Darryn Stamp’s cross home after just three minutes. Debutant Michael Branch added two more goals before the break to give City a 3-0 half-time advantage that they kept through the second period. New signing Cortez Belle played in defence for the full 90 minutes while Stewart Drummond, Stephen Vaughan, Darren Edmondson and Richard Hope also played a part in the victory.

No fewer that nine players have been signed during a busy summer in the transfer market and there’s even a possibility of a tenth with Stockport County’s Kevin Ellison a target to join Stewart Drummond, Chris Mackenzie, Cortez Belle, Stephen Vaughan, Michael Branch, Sean Hessey, Richard Hope, Andy Watson, and Darren Edmondson as City prepare for their return to Football League action on 7 August.

Chester have agreed to switch the away game against Northampton Town at Sixfields Stadium to Friday 19 November, to avoid a clash with the local rugby team that are also at home on the Saturday.

The Blues have also agreed to Cheltenham Town’s request to bring forward the game at Whaddon Road 24 hrs to Friday 8 October to avoid the England v Wales World Cup qualifying game on the Saturday. Both switches, that have yet to be approved by the Football League, will no doubt affect the number of City supporters able to travel to each game.

Note that Mansfield Town (A) on 26 March clashes with England v Northern Ireland so another switch is also possible there.