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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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