Chester Preview

Chester City at home… Not the most appealing fixture for floating fans. Chester sit rock bottom of the Conference and they’re yet to overcome their -25 points deduction that they received at the start of the season. We have won 1 of the last 6 home games only managing to muster 5 goals. 

Saturdays game is massive for both teams. We desperately need a win to get ourselves back into the play off place but for Chester it could be their last ever game. They face a winding up order on 27th for unpaid debts to HMRC, and if they can’t come to some agreement it will be the end of line for Chester City.

We had it bad with Haslam but these guys have had all it really, really bad. Dropping out of the Football League, going into administration, starting the new season a week late. Then to top it all off they had a -25 point deduction to overcome. This is all before a ball has been kicked.

The next few months were to be full of twists and turns. Transfer embargos, 2 managers leaving. The club changing hands again and a winding up order placed against them by the HMRC.  Chester are currently seeking investors to help pay off the debts that they owe.

The home crowds have fell fast over the last 6 months. A mere 425 watched Tuesday nights game against Salisbury and Chesters official supporters club have backed a boycott of all home games until the club changes hands. Cutting all money off going into the club is sure to make the owners think about carrying on running the club.

On the pitch it’s not looking good for Chester either. 2 players have recently left. Nick Chadwick yesterday joined Barrow whilst Anthony Barry last week joined their rivals Wrexham. They haven’t scored in 6 games and their last win was way back in November.

For us things are completely at the other end of the scale. This week Steve Hymas bought a 25% share of the club and joined Andy Perry, Andy Saunders and Steve Middleton on the board of directors. The money Hymas paid for the shares was used to buy Luke Foster from Oxford. Foster is expected to make his debut at weekend after hooking up with his new teammates in training today. Many fans will be looking forward to seeing what Foster can bring to the side.

Jon Shaw who signed last week is due to miss out on Saturdays game through a hamstring strain. Really unfortunate for us as I was looking forward to seeing him in action. It looks like Duffy and Perry will probably start up front now with Speight on the right wing. Also in contention for a first start since December is versatile defender come midfielder Craig Armstrong. He is looking to replace Paul Heckingbottom at left back.

Predicted team line up

Marriott

Silk-Foster-Jones-Armstrong

Speight-Hotchkiss-Somner-Williams

Perry-Duffy

Score prediction – Stags 3-0 Chester