The club have offered goalkeeper John Danby a new two year deal. Danby, whose present contract runs out in June, came runner up in the Player of the Season last year, playing much of the season with an injury. He also broke a club record for the number of consecutive appearances during the season. Picture © Evening Leader

Plans are already being made to hold a fans’ meeting with other supporters’ groups to determine what future action can be taken to save the club.

The Trust is in talks with other parties to gain support and sponsorship and to publicise the seriousness of the situation at the Deva Stadium.

The Trust asks that fans remain patient whilst these actions are ongoing. Obviously there will be an element of confidentiality involved in ongoing discussions but the Trust will always remain transparent – and answerable to all of its members for its actions.

Dialogue with the local council, the administrators, and other interested parties cannot be opened in 24hours – it will take a bit of time to engage with all of these parties and report back to fans of our discussions.

Unfortunately, the Board members all work full time and their own businesses remain a priority.

However, we would ask all parties interested in helping to secure the long term future of CCFC to contact us via our email address – press@supportchester.co.uk

The football club have today entered into voluntary administration. A very brief message on the official club website said: “Chester City FC directors today took the decision following approval from our debenture holders to enter into voluntary administration to safeguard the future of the Football club.”

The administrators appointed are company called Refresh Recovery Ltd. They have issued the following press release.

<start>On the 14th May 2009 in the high court of justice, Chancellery division in Manchester, Martin Shaw of Refresh Recovery Ltd, West Lancashire Investment Centre, Maple View, Whitemoss Business Park, Skelmersdale, West Lancashire, WN8 9TG.

Was appointed administrator to Chester City Football club Ltd under court number 1347 of 2009.

Martin Shaw today commented “Supporters can be assured that our aim is to find a new owner for the club so that professional football continues to be played in Chester from the start of the new season.”

In order to achieve this we need to find a new buyer able to invest heavily in to the club and then to obtain approval from the clubs creditors to the sale.

We are already talking to potential purchasers of financial substance and as time is short I would urge any other parties seriously interested in buying the business to make contact with us sooner rather than later.

Further announcements will only be made when it is appropriate to do so.

For further information please contact Refresh Recovery Ltd Mr Martin Shaw or Mr Bill Brandon on telephone number 01695 711200. <end>

As a result of this action the club are expected to start next season in the Blue Square Premiership on minus 10 points.

The club have been in administration before on 27 October 1998 when they were placed in administration by a judge at Salford County Court. On that occasion Begbies Traynor were appointed administrators and a secured a new owner for the club, Terry Smith, in July 1999.

The club look close to going into administration for a second time after owner Steve Vaughan made it known that he has been considering the option.

Vaughan said: “We have been considering our options for a number of weeks. I have taken a decision, and when that decision is publicly confirmed, I know people will understand that it was taken to safeguard the future and in the best interests of the club.”

“We have only seven contracted players at the moment and we have got the club by the scruff of the neck now. We are also taking stock of the finances and of the losses we have suffered over the last eight years.”

The club had been waiting the outcome of the sale of League Two side Darlington, a club currently in administration. It has been speculated that should any proposed sale fall through then the Blues would receive a reprieve from relegation.

Vaughan added: “We have been told that Darlington FC have found an investor so we have accepted that we are now a Conference club.”

Administration would mean that the Blues would start the coming season with a ten point deficit.

Season Tickets bought before 31st May 2009 (Six games and car park pass free)
£255.00 Adult
£170.00 Concessions
£85.00 Under 16
These prices apply to the East stand, West stand and Harry McNally terrace.

Season Tickets from 1st June 2009 until 30th June 2009 (five games free)
£270.00 Adult
£180.00 Concessions
£90.00 Under 16
These prices are for the Vaughan, West and Harry McNally Stands.

Season Tickets from 1st July 2009 (three games free)
£300.00 Adult
£200.00 Concessions
£100.00 Under 16
These prices apply to the East stand, West stand and Harry McNally terrace.

Season car park pass
£50.00

Existing season ticket holders have until 31st May 2009 to claim their seats, after this date they will go on general sale.
Existing adult season ticket holders will receive a £30.00 discount
Existing under 16 season ticket holders will receive a free season ticket.

Anthony Barry is the latest player to be told he must find a new club for next season. Barry is still under contract after signing a two year deal last summer when he arrived from Yeovil Town.

Midfielder Barry said: “The gaffer told me that the club could no longer afford my wages and he advised me to look elsewhere for another club. It’s disappointing to be told that you're no longer wanted, but unfortunately that’s what can happen in football when you get relegated. It’s been a bit of a financial struggle at Chester and there’s always a knock-on effect.”

“But I’m not the only player who has been told to find a new club. There are seven players in all who have been told they can move on � including some of the bigger names. It’s been a bitterly disappointing time at Chester. We were just two wins away from safety, but at the end of the day we just weren’t good enough.”

Barry’s former club Yeovil are believed to have enquired about the players availability.

As expected following their relegation from League Two several of City’s players have left. Laurence Wilson, Damien Mozika and James Vaughan have all had their contracts terminated. Mozika was suspended by the club in late April due to disciplinary reasons and has returned to France, while Vaughan is expected to join Australian side Wollongong Community FC. Three more senior players, top scorer Ryan Lowe, club captain Paul Linwood and Kevin Ellison have all agreed to terminate theirs and will be looking for new clubs in the summer. The club are said to be looking for fees for these three players. Several more players are expected to leave shortly as they are out of contract. Chester owner Steve Vaughan said: “We’re looking at a clear out and once that clear out is complete manager Mark Wright will want to bring in the players he has identified.” Picture of Kevin Ellison signing his last autographs by Sue Choularton.

Chester ended their relegation season with a home defeat, their twelfth of the season, as Darlington scored a last minute winner at Deva Stadium on Saturday. The Blues fell behind on 71 minutes after Pawel Abbott scored a free-kick from six yards after goalkeeper Jamie Spencer handled a backpass from Glenn Rule.

The home side looked to have salvaged a deserved point though after Ian Miller had headed and Anthony Barry cross into his own net a minute from time. But, typical of the way the season has panned out, the Blues were unable to hold out for two minutes before conceding their 81st goal of the league campaign. As last season, the Blues ended up winning just two games between Christmas and the end of the season!

Manager Mark Wright has indicated that he would be prepared to manage the side in non-league next season provided owner Steve Vaughan remains at the club.

Wright said: “I think the next couple of weeks at Chester will tell people a lot. I’ve said all along that if club owner Stephen Vaughan stays then I’ll stay, but if that doesn’t happen then I’ll seriously review it. I want to stay in football. If I’d have learned my lesson and kept my mouth shut at times then I could have been in the Championship by now.”

“I don’t want to go down and manage in the Conference because I’ve been there and done that one, but if Stephen Vaughan stays then we’ll stay together.”

City bring their miserable season to a close tomorrow when Darlington visit Deva Stadium (15:00hrs). City could be without both Kevin Ellison and Richie Partridge for this last match in the Football League before non-league football comes back to Deva Stadium in August.

Despite the bitter disappointment of relegation, City will still be looking for a win tomorrow to complete the double after beating Darlington, who were second in the table at the time, 2-1 away in late November thanks to goals from Lowe and Shaun Kelly.

Ahead of the game manager Mark Wright said: “We have now got to be positive and endeavour to win our last match against Darlington. There were a couple of tears in the dressing room at Aldershot last week, so we have got to pick ourselves up and get on with things.”

“It’s a day I’ll certainly never forget for as long as I live. It was a horrible feeling when we all realised our fate and anyone involved should never forget how it felt. Not a lot of people will probably agree with me, but I think we worked hard in every game we played during the course of the season.”