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NEWS FROM DEVA STADIUM 2009

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JULY
30 July 2009
DROYLSDEDN FRIENDLY GETS GO-AHEAD
Chester City have been given special permission from the Football Association to play their friendly charity match at Droylsden on Saturday (15:00hrs). The game is and annual event in memory of Neil ‘Tony’ Downes from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, who was killed in Afghanistan.

TRIALIST ON THE MARK FOR CITY
City drew 1-1 in a behind-closed-doord pre-season friendly against a Burnley X1 at Deva Stadium yesterday afternoon. The City goal came from Oldham Athletic forward Lewis Alessandra. The Blues are hoping to take the Latics youngster on loan.

29 July 2009
FUTURE IN DOUBT AFTER COURT RULING
The future of the football club appears to be in the hands of the Football Association today and City’s CVA was revolked in court at yesterday’s hearing at the Manchester High Court.

The hearing came following an objection from HM Revenue & Custom’s to the CVA presented when the club came out of administration a few weeks ago. The court found in favour of the Revenue and City must now plead with the FA to allow them to register their affiliation in time for the new season that starts in just ten days time.

This latest twist in a shambolic pre-season that has allowed new manager Mick Wadsworth to see his new players in just one practice match with the other six games of the campaign postponed due to the lack of FA affiliation. There is also a possibility that the club may receive further points punishment to add to the -10 they would start the season with.

News from the football club has been almost non-existent during this latest saga but last night they issued the following press release.

Chester City Football Club Ltd in administration press release

On the 8th July 2009 in the High court of Justice, Chancellery Division in Manchester, HM revenue and Customs (HMRC) filed an application challenging the approval of the company voluntary arrangement (CVA) which was originally approved at a meeting of creditors held on the 11th June, 2009.

At a hearing held in the Manchester High Court and concluded today His Honour Judge Pelling QC ruled in favour of the application by HMRC in respect of a debt owed by Chester City Football Club Ltd to a connected creditor and revoked the approval of the CVA. Martin Shaw of Refresh Recovery Ltd, and the administrator in this matter stated that the decision by the Court, on the application of HMRC, is a setback to the new owners of the club.

However, we are actively talking with the Football Association in relation to the impact that this decision will have upon the transfer of the membership to the FA. The new owners and I are working with the Football Association to ensure that the club can commence playing matches when the new season starts on the 8th August, 2009.

Further communications will follow when appropriate. For further information please contact Refresh Recovery Ltd, Martin Shaw/Bill Brandon on 01695711200 or Turner Parkinson Solicitors’ Will Jones on 016 1833 1212.

27 July 2009
CLARETS MATCH OFF
The home friendly match against newly promote Premiership side Burnley on Thursday has been postponed. This is due to the ongoing problems the club have with their lack of FA affiliation.

The club’s Administrators, Refresh Recovery, were in court today at the conclusion of a hearing regarding the CVA with representatives of HM Revenue and Customs. An announcement in expected in the next 24 hours.

22 July 2009
DUO BANNED BY FA
Both Jay Harris (left) and David Mannix have received fines and bans from the Football Association after being found guilty of a breach of rule E8(a) which refers to betting on matches.

The case against Harris was the more serious of the two and involved betting on a match when he was playing for Accrington Stanley and also a bet on three games last season including City’s away trip to Bournemouth. He received a 12 month ban and a £5,500 fine.

Whilst an Accrington player, Mannix was charged with betting on an Acrington Stanley game against Bury on 3 May 2008, and has been banned for 10 months and received a £4,000 fine.

City’s managing director Bob Gray said: “They have to go and it is as simple as that as we cannot condone players betting on their own team to get beat. We’re taking the right steps through our solicitors and they will get what they deserve. If it’s a sackable offence, we will sack them.”

FA Press Statement

Picture © Chester Evening Leader
20 July 2009
MORE MATCHES POSTPONED
As manager Mick Wadsworth tries to prepare his players for the coming campaign, it’s been announced tomorrow night’s home friendly against a Liverpool X1, the Thursday night match at Airbus UK, and Saturday’s trip to Telford United have both been postponed following the club’s lack of affiliation to the FA.
17 July 2009
CLUB IN TURMOIL, YET AGAIN!
The club have been advised by the Football Association compliance unit not to play any more pre-season friendlies as they are not affiliated to the FA since leaving administration. It appears the unit have concerns over the set-up regarding the new company that bought the club from administration.

On the latest crisis managing director Rob Gray told BBC Radio Merseyside: �We have to adhere to certain rules and regulations from the FA transferring the membership from the old company to the new company.”

That’s what we’re working on as we speak. Our solicitors are in consultation with the FA to finalise all the relevant paperwork that needs to be processed.

Obviously that will be reverted and hopefully sooner rather than later we can rearrange our friendlies and carry on with the football we need to play.

“All the relevant paperwork today has been sent across to the rightful people so hopefully by Monday we’ll have a clearer picture of how it stands and we’ll move forward accordingly.”

Mark Hooper, communications manager at the FA, said: “When clubs go into administration and transfer to a new owner, there are certain regulations every club has to meet to safeguard the financial integrity of the game.”

“These regulations are outlined to the club and, to date, they (Chester City) haven’t met our rules. Some of the information we need has been supplied but not all of it. It is not us that’s the issue.”
16 July 2009
SIGNINGS CONTINUE
City have completed the signing of 26-year-old Uruguayan midfielder Fabian Yantorno on a one year deal. The South American player played under manager Mick Wadsworth at Gretna. He is expected to be included in the City squad that play at Marine on Saturday. As he holds a joint Italian/Uruguyan citizenship there should be no problems with a work permit.

Blues owner Steve Vaughan commented: �Mick Wadsworth has worked with this player before, and he knows only too well the flair and pace he possesses. We are sure that he will be one of the stars of this season.”

Wadsworth (left) said: “I am very excited about the signing of Fabian. As I keep saying it is almost unbelievable to have signed him because of his ability and the standards he is capable of. ”

We are just waiting for international clearance to go through and once that is done, hopefully by the weekend, he will be able to start playing. The fans will be delighted with his ability, he is a very clever player who produces and scores goals.

“There is no doubt that he will have a major impact on this team with his ability from deadball situations, and he also wins a lot of free-kicks.”

Transfer activity

Picture © Chester Evening Leader
13 July 2009
OPENING WIN FOR CITY
A Blues side containing mainly youth players and trialists won 3-1 at Connah’s Quay Nomads tonight as the pre-season got underway in front of a crowd of around 200 at Holywell Town’s ground.

First half goals from Lloyd Ellams (22 pen) and Andy Inabiere (28) gave Chester a two goal lead before the home side pulled a goal back on 32 minutes. The third City goal came six minutes before the break by James Owen.

Chester City: Andrew Murphy, Jack Rea (Glenn Rule 45), Ben Witcombe, Connell Rawlinson, Mark King (Scott Reid 70), James Owen, James Craggs, Ben Jones (Ryan Davidson 60), Lloyd Ellams (Danny Holmes 45), Andy Inabiere (James Evans 80), George Mboa.

Chester’s next match is on Saturday when they travel to Marine, kick-off 15:00hrs.

10 July 2009
MONDAY FRIENDLY
City fans will get a chance to see some of manager Mick Wadsworth’s new signings on Monday night as the Blues have agreed a friendly against Connah’s Quay Nomads. The match will be played at Holywell Town and kick-off at 19:00hrs. Nomads are managed by former City Youth team manager Jim Hackett, while former youth player Wes Kilgannon has been appointed as his assistant manager.

9 July 2009
DEFENDER SIGNS FOR CITY
The Blues are reported to have completed the signing of 21-year-old central defender Michael Lee. He was at Scunthorpe United last seasonand had a loan pell at Royal Antwerp. City boss Mick Wadsworth has know Lee since he began his career at Manchester United. He said: “Michael is another quality player with a wealth of experience. He will be a great addition to our squad.”

Lee follows the signing of another defender the experienced 34-year-old Tim Ryan who was released by Darligton a the end of last season. Ryan began his career as a trainee at Scunthorpe United before furthering his career at Buxton, Doncaster Rovers, Altrincham, Southport, Peterborough United and Boston United before joining the Quakers in January 2007. He made 41+5 appearances for the north east side scoring one goal.


7 July 2009
FIXTURE SWITCH
Chester’s away fixture at neighbours Wrexham has been switched to Sunday 27 September. The match will be all-ticket and have a 12:00noon kick-off time.

3 July 2009
AWAY START FOR CITY
In the Conference fixture list issued today the Blues have been given a trip to Essex for an away match at Grays Athletic on the opening day of the season, 8 August. This is followed on the Tuesday night with their first home match against newly promoted Gateshead.

The two derby matches against Wrexham are scheduled take place over the border on Saturday 25 September and at Deva Stadium on 13 February.

The Blues will enter the FA Trophy at the First Round Proper stage on 12 December. The regular season will end on 24 April with a home match against Crawley Town.

Full fixture list

2 July 2009
NEW CONTRACT FOR DANBY
John Danby has agreed a new two-year deal to stay at Deva Stadium. The goalkeeper who last year created a new club record for consecutive appearances, was also runner-up to Ryan Lowe in the Player of the Year award.

Danby said: “I’ve been talking to Chester throughout the summer and I have been watching closely what was happening at the club.
I’ve met the new boss, Mick Wadsworth, and it was good to get my immediate future sorted out. We spoke about the gaffer’s plans for the season and what he is wanting to do. There are still a lot of players who are out of contract so he has a lot of players to choose from.”

New manager Mick Wadsworth spoke of the Danby deal: “John staying is as good as news as I could have asked for in my first week. We didn’t have a goalkeeper on the books but, more importantly, we’ve now got a top-class goalkeeper and a good character.”

More players are expected to be brought in as the club prepare for a return to training. Defender Neil Ashton is poised to sign after being released by Shrewsbury Town. The 24-year-old Liverpudlian began his career as a trainee at Tranmere Rovers in 2003 and scored one goal in 19+0 appearances whilst on loan at Macclesfield Town last season.

According to Wadsworth three more players could be heading to the Deva in the next few days: “I’ll keep quiet on them for now as I’m still finalising the details. But what I can say is that they are a couple of left-sided players, who can play left-back and left-wing, and a right-sided midfield player. I’m hoping to name them on Friday.”

One player believed to be targeted is 20-year-old Stalybridge Celtic left-back Rhys Meynell.

Picture © Evening Leader


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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