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31
March 2010
EXILES RAISE MONEY FOR CFU
The Exiles raised
the grand sum of £1,112.13p with a bucket
collection at last night’s Conference match
between AFC Wimbledon and Wrexham. Thanks to all
at AFC Wimbledon for allowing the Exiles to organise
the collection, and to fans from both clubs, and
a few neutrals as well, for their generous donations
and good wishes throughout the night. All money
raised will go to CFU to help their campaign to
bring a community football back to the City in August.
25 March 2010
FANS HAVE THEIR SAY
Chester
FC was the overwhelming choice of supporters for
the name of the new football club hoping to be launched
for next season by City Fans United.
CFU press officer Jeff Banks said: “It’s
been great to see so many fans having the chance
to rename the club, and as the voting shows, the
fans want to go back to the name Chester Football
Club. Now we can well and truly prepare our club
for the future, but carrying an important piece
of history with us.”
The name polled 70% of the vote held by CFU over
the last few days and sees the new club revert back
to the name of the club before the City was added
in 1983. The result of the voting was as follows:
Chester
FC – 887 votes (70%)
City of Chester FC – 196 votes (16%)
FC Chester – 110 votes (9%)
Chester Rovers FC – 68 votes (5%)
COUNCIL SET DEADLINE
A 25 day deadline
has been set by Cheshire West and Chester Council
for those interested in running a football club
out of Deva Stadium to submit their intentions by
19 April.
Council leader Mike Jones said: “We will obviously
have to examine the business case of anyone interested
in running a club at the Deva Stadium before making
a decision on a new tenant, and we are running out
of time to undertake this process. This authority
is willing to talk to anyone with the best interests
of Chester and football at heart, and a good business
case to support their aspirations.”
18 March 2010
YOUR CHANCE TO NAME THE CLUB
The phone lines are
now open for supporters to vote on the name of the
new CFU phoenix club. A shortlist of four names
has been drawn up from suggestions sent in to the
organisation. They are:
1. Chester FC
2. City of Chester FC
3. Chester Rovers FC
4. FC Chester
To register your vote please call 0800 050 1254
and listen to the instructions given by non other
than former Chester hero Grenville Millington.
Calls are free from a landline but a charge will
apply to mobiles. Only one vote can be made per
phone number. The lines will close at 23:00hrs on
23 March. Postal votes are being accepted but must
be received by last post on 23 March.
Postal votes should be sent
to:
City Fans United name Vote, PO Box 3170, Chester
CH4 8WP.
The result will be revealed
in next week’s Chester Chronicle.
CFU chairman, Chris Pilsbury
said: “We are starting as we mean to go on.
Opening up the naming of our reformed club to the
whole community is a signal of intent. This Club
will belong to the people of Chester and everyone
should have the chance to have their say.”
COUNCIL REGAIN STADIUM CONTROL
The
keys to Deva Stadium are back in the hands of Cheshire
West and Chester Council after they were handed
over by administrators to its property management
service. With the ground now secure the Council
is inviting interested parties who want to promote
a community club in Chester to come forward. City
Fans United, whose membership now stands at 1,000+
full and junior members, have already submitted
an application for a new club licence with the Football
Association and have held talks with Council leaders
over their aspirations for a new club at the heart
of the community.
Council leader Mike Jones said: “At least,
due to our determined efforts, the ground is back
in council control. I am delighted this has taken
place so quickly because it now allows meaningful
discussions, obviously not possible under different
circumstances. We are prepared to talk to anyone
seriously interested in maintaining a football team
in Chester with a good business case to support
their aspirations.”
13 March 2010
RUSH SAD AT BLUES DEMISE
Former
player and manager Ian Rush has told of his sorrow
at the winding-up of the football club last week.
He told the Wales on Sunday newspaper: “I
feel very sorry for the way things have gone because
Chester is a club with great tradition and we would
all love to see them back in the league once more.”
And Wrexham fan and former Wales international Robbie
Savage was also saddened to hear of the demise of
rivals Chester but hoped a phoenix club could be
formed, he said:
“Even as a Wrexham lad, I’m gutted to
see Chester City going out of business. I’ve
been to a few Chester v Wrexham derbies and they’re
always a big buzz. It’s a rivalry based on
pure hatred. There were 8,000 there last time and
I know the Wrexham fans will be as sad as anyone
to see those big days disappear as their arch-enemies
drop out of the Conference. Good luck to the people
who are trying to revive the club from scratch.”
11 March 2010
COUNCIL LOOK TO TAKE STADIUM CONTROL
The Council will be
looking to evict the current tenants following yesterday’s
winding-up of the club. Late or non-payment of the
rent has been the norm at Deva Stadium over the
last few years.
Council leader Mike Jones told the Chester Chronicle:
“In one respect today�s High Court decision
is a sad day for football in Chester. In another,
it could herald the start of an exciting new beginning.
We are in the process of taking action to secure
the imminent return of the stadium to our control.”
City Fans United (CFU) are now hopeful of setting
up a Phoenix Club using Deva Stadium as their home.
The supporters group has near to 1,000 members and
have held preliminary talks with council leaders
and are submitting a business plan for the future
of professional football in the city. The level
at which a new club could enter the League is as
yet unknown. It may be as high as the Unibond North/South
or as low as the North West Counties League.
Councilor Jones continued: “We are prepared
to examine all options put to us to secure the future
of football in Chester providing they are accompanied
by a sustainable business case. We are looking to
develop football at the Deva Stadium hopefully with
a significant community aspect involved. Ideally,
we would like to see the Deva as the hub of a ‘football
in the community’ project which reached our
young people at every age range.”
10 March 2010
CLUB WOUND UP
Rumours
of a last-ditch tax payment proved unfounded as
Chester City Football Club (2004 Ltd) were this
morning wound-up in the High Court in London. The
club had no representation in court for the brief
one minute hearing. Former Chester manager Jim Harvey
was represented by a barrister in court who supported
the petition. An official receiver will now be appointed
to recover what he can for the creditors from the
club’s remaining assets.
A statement from the Football Association said:
“The FA notes today’s decision of the
High Court in relation to Chester City. The winding-up
of any club is a loss to the game and in particular
to the supporters of that club. In order to maintain
a senior football club in the city of Chester, The
FA will welcome applications if the club wishes
to reform. Any such applications will be considered
by The FA’s Leagues Committee.”
The hard work of starting a community based Phoenix
Club through the CFU, and hopefully with the support
of the local council and business, now continues.
Guardian
report with supporter quotes
COURT APPEARANCE FOR CITY
Once again the football
club will make an appearance in Court 76 of the
High Courts of Justice in London this morning as
the HMRC look to wind-up the company for non payment
of tax. The amount in question is £26,125.
The case was first heard on 27 January when the
club stated they were considering a CVA and an adjournment
of 42 days was given. With the club thrown out of
the Football Conference and no income since, the
winding-up of the club seems inevitable.
9 March 2010
YOUTH TEAM RESULTS EXPUNGED
The Youth Team have
had all their matches and results from this season’s
Football League Youth Alliance North West Conference
expunged following their resignation from the league.
The team were last in action last week when they
beat Accrington
Stanley 3-2.
Youth
fixtures | Table
8 March 2010
BLUES FAIL TO APPEAL
AGAINST DECISION
Chester have failed
to appeal against the process of their expulsion
from the Football Conference after last Friday’s
deadline for an appeal came and went. The club had
indicated they would be contesting the decision
but Conference Chairman Brian Lee told the Non-League
Paper “They kept changing their minds.”
Details of City’s matches for this season
are now expunged from the records and the league
table adjusted.
Conference
statement
“The Football Conference announce Chester
City (2004) FC, having not lodged any appeal in
respect of their removal from the competition, have
had their playing record expunged with immediate
effect.” “A
new calculated table is being circulated via the
Press Association this afternoon as the official
record to be used by all the media and member
clubs from this date.”
“Due to the fact that
all goals involved in those matches played to
date are also expunged, it means that those players
having scored goals in matches against Chester
City in the Blue Square Premier also see them
expunged from the record books.”
“This is to maintain
fairness and consistency in relation to the player
winning the ‘Golden Boot’ award at the
end of the season in the Blue Square Premier. Goals
scored in FA Cup or FA Trophy ties are not so affected
and will remain in those competitions.”
New
Conference table
COURT DATE LOOMS
Chester City FC (2004
Ltd) are back in the High Court on Wednesday as
they face a winding up order from HMRC. The amount
of money owed is �26,125. Adding to the Vaughan
Family woes is the news that the Council may seek
to evict the club from Deva Stadium over late payments
of rent.
3 March 2010
PLAYERS LOOKING TO MOVE ON
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Two players
have been linked with moves to other clubs
following City’s expulsion from the
Football Conference last week. Youngster James
Owen, who left the club several weeks ago,
looks set to join former Blues Gregg Blundell
and Nick Chadwick at Barrow. Another player
who came through the youth ranks, Shaun
Kelly (pictured), looks set to have trials
with Port Vale.
Since this report Kelly has joined Burton
Albion until the end of the season.
Picture
© Evening Leader
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