The Welsh FA have asked the club, and been given permission, to hold talks with City manager Ian Rush in relation to the Welsh national managerial position.

Rush has only been involved in management since taking over at League Two Chester in August but has been strongly tipped as a potential successor to Mark Hughes.

City brushed aside bottom-of-the-table Kidderminster Harriers 3-0 to move up four places to 14th in League Two. Michael Branch headed City ahead on 28 minutes, and they should have doubled their lead as Richard Hope headed wide from six yards.

Following the break Wayne Hatswell was sent-off for bringing down Branch, the former City defender received a standing ovation as he left the pitch before Kevin Ellison swept home the resulting free-kick. Man-of-the-match Ben Davies wrapped up the scoring on 64 minutes against his former club after substitute Daryl Clare had seen a shot blocked.

• Latest League 2 table

Two quality goals from man-of-the-match Michael Branch set up City’s 2-1 victory over Grimsby Town on Saturday. Branch struck with both goals in a three minutes spell towards the end of the first half, The Mariners reduced the arrears right on half-time as Phil Bolland deflected in a shot from on-loan striker John Daly over Chris MacKenzie.

The Blues withstood a lot of second half pressure from the visitors but held out for the three points that lifts them to 18th position in League Two.

City can climb as high as 14th should they overcome Kidderminster Harriers at Deva Stadium on Tuesday night. This will be the first league encounter between the sides, with Harriers gaining promotion as City were relegated to the Conference in 2000.

The only occasion the teams have met before was at Sealand Road in the fourth round of the Welsh Cup in January 1976 (programme left). A repeat of the scoreline on that occasion would be nice as goals from Nigel Edwards, Tony Loska, Barney Daniels, Terry Owen, Stuart Mason, Paul Crossley and two from Dave Lennard gave Chester an emphatic 8-1 victory.

City welcome Grimsby Town for their first-ever visit to Deva Stadium tomorrow. The two sides haven’t met since the 1990/91 season when City were exiled at Macclesfield when the Mariners completed the double.

Grimsby currently lie mid-table and, like City, have two away wins to show for their travels so far at Cambridge United and Northampton Town and will give fitness tests to both Jason Crowe and John McDermott ahead of tomorrow's game.

Steve Vaughan confirmed at last night’s fans forum that Scarborough had expressed an interest in both Daryl Clare and Darryn Stamp, the City strikeforce that netted 50 goals last season.

The Blues have now gone eight games undefeated since Ian Rush took charge of his first side against Macclesfield Town. Saturday’s 1-0 win at Rushden & Diamonds lifted the Blues to 19th in League Two though that position is likely to change after tomorrow night’s round of matches, the Blues play the following week due to Rush’s involvement with the Welsh u17 side.

Stewart Drummond proved City’s match winner at Nene Park, heading home unmarked on 77 minutes and the Blues were guilty of squandering several good chances to extend their lead after that.

With Wayne Brown picking up a leg injury in the pre-match warm-up, and he may possible be out for up to four weeks as a result, Chris MacKenzie made his full league debut for City between the sticks. His only other appearance was at Hillsborough and he rose to the occasion making a superb one-handed second-half save to keep out Burgess’s long-range pile driver.

With the departure of Danny Collins in the week, Richard Hope also made a full, and impressive, league debut for City at Nene Park. You can read Richard’s thoughts on the game in his regular column for Sky Sports here.

Chester City have a home draw against Tranmere Rovers in round 2 of the Football League Youth Alliance Cup. The Blues were given a bye in round 1 whilst opponents Tranmere beat Wrexham 2-0. The tie is scheduled to be played on Saturday 27 November.

Meanwhile the team beat Rotherham United at home 3-0 on Saturday with goals from James Salkeld (penalty), Mark Cadwallader and Robbie Booth to move fourth in the Youth Alliance North Central Conference.

• Youth team fixtures | table

With the exception of Andy Watson, manager Ian Rush will have a full squad to choose from for tomorrow’s League Two game against Rushden & Diamonds at Nene Park.

The Blues make only their third visit to the Northamptonshire ground (kick-off 15:00hrs) where they played their first ever match in the Nationwide Conference and contested the J C Thompson Championship Shield in 2001/02. City lost on both occasions (the second on a penalty shoot-out) so fans will be hoping it’s a case of third time lucky tomorrow against a side City have never beaten.

City fans will be pleased to hear that club chairman Steve Vaughan has told the Evening Leader that an out of court settlement has been made with York-based Goldcrest Finance Corporation over a petition to wind up Vaughan Trading Company.

Vaughan stated: “It was a dispute between both companies that simply got out of hand. We have now settled that dispute out of court, and there is no longer any claim against Vaughan Trading Ltd. There is no need to worry; the only time to worry is when I am no longer at Chester City FC. I am the club’s overdraft facility, and while I am here I will not let Chester City FC go under.”

City reserves lost 1-4 tonight against league leaders Manchester United in a Pontins Holiday League game. Kevin McIntyre scored for the Blues with a diving header on 66 minutes in the match played in front of 201 at Hyde United. The City team was: MacKenzie, Vaughan, McIntyre, Ventre, Jones, Abdulahic ((trialist) Salkeld 60), Harris (Walsh 73), Booth (Rutherford 70), Stamp, Clare, Watson, Subs not used: Brookfield, Whalley. • Reserve team fixtures | table

Good luck to City defender Danny Collins who has signed a three-and-a-half year contract for Championship side Sunderland today. The fee reported on the official Sunderland site is £140,000 of which his former club Buckley Town will receive 20%.

Collins signed for City from Buckley in 2001, initially as a striker, and went on to make 74+5 appearances, scoring 4 goals, for the Blues. During his stay at City had had a successful loan spell at neighbours Vauxhall Motors and was in the side for their giant-killing FA Cup win at Queens Park Rangers. In 2003 he picked up a National Game X1 Semi-Pro cap for England against Holland.

City make ony their second-ever visit to Whaddon Road tonight for their League Two game against Cheltenham Town. The last occasion the two sides met was back in April 2000 when City were fighting relegation to the Conference and the Robins were looking for a play-off place in division three. Over 1,000 City fans made the trip on that occasion only to see their side lose 1-0. Two Blues players remain from that visit, Wayne Brown and Paul Carden.

Cheltenham currently lie just two places above City on the same number of points and, like the Blues, have won on just one occasion at home to date, 1-0 against Boston United.

Ian Rush will welcome back Kevin Ellison back the squad that drew with Swansea City last Saturday following his one match ban.

Daryl Clare scored the second-half equaliser for City’s reserves from the penalty spot in today’s 1-1 draw at Rochdale. The home side had earlier taken the lead through Daryl Burgess in blustery conditions at Rossendale United’s Dark Lane ground this afternoon.

High flying Swansea City visit Deva Stadium tomorrow for what promises to be an exciting clash. The Blues’ confidence will be high following the terrific midweek win at Sheffield Wednesday as they take on a Swans side currently third in League Two and with three away under their belt already this season. Like City, they tasted LDV success in the week with a 2-0 home win over League One table toppers Luton Town.

Sunderland have followed Sheffield United with a bid for 24-year-old defender Danny Collins. Chairman Steve Vaughan has confirmed that his opposite number Bob Murray had contacted him and faxed over their, as yet undisclosed, offer.

Collins is out of contract at the end of the season and the Blues are desperate for him to stay at the Deva. The club are expected to open talks with the defender regarding new terms shortly.