Chester City

Chester City
Chester chief eyes Everton shares Chester City chairman Steven Vaughan wants to buy a stake in Everton. Lifelong fan Vaughan has been linked with a bid to buy out Everton director Paul Gregg's 23.2% stake in the club, which is worth a reported £7m. Vaughan's spokesman Lee Maloney told the Liverpool Echo: "It has long been Stephen's dream to play a part in the club he has supported all his life. "Without giving specific details it is something which he will endeavour to pursue with immediate effect." Maloney added: "I am not at liberty to discuss any specific discussions with existing shareholders." Blues chairman Bill Kenwright has been searching for new investment, and has yet to finalise a £12.8m cash injection from the Fortress Sports Fund. Everton chief executive Keith Wyness said: "We are always happy to hear from any potential source of funding, but we have not had any formal approach from Stephen Vaughan nor his representatives. "Sales of shares, however, are a private matter and entirely up to the individuals concerned." Gregg was involved in a bitter boardroom battle with Everton chairman Bill Kenwright last summer and may want to sell his shareholding. Kenwright possesses 25 per cent of the club's shares and is the majority shareholder.

Chester bid for Doncaster striker
Doncaster Rovers are considering an undisclosed six-figure bid from Chester City for striker Gregg Blundell. The 29-year-old has scored 32 times in 96 senior appearances since joining Rovers from Northwich in March 2003. Having joined when they were in the Conference, he has helped Dave Penney's side earn back-to-back promotions. Keith Curle, who was appointed as City's manager just before the end of the season, recently revealed plans for a mass clear-out at the Deva Stadium.

Chester snap up defender McNiven
Chester have completed the signing of defender Scott McNiven. The 27-year-old was released by League Two rivals Mansfield at the end of last season after a year at Field Mill. The Leeds-born player spent most of the last campaign successfully battling against cancer and is now looking to rebuild his career. McNiven started his career at Oldham, making more than 100 appearances in seven years at Boundary Park before joining Oxford and then Mansfield

Glovers have Holt offer rejected
Yeovil Town have failed with a bid for Rochdale striker Gary Holt. The 24-year-old scored 24 times for Dale last season, and Glovers boss Gary Johnson said: "We did make a substantial offer which was rejected. "Unless Rochdale reconsider that offer we will turn our sights to other targets," he told the Western Gazette. Marcus Richardson has left Yeovil to sign a one-year deal with Chester, and Polish frontman Bartosz Tarachulski has also left Huish Park.

Spireites win the race for Larkin
Chesterfield have beaten a host of clubs including Darlington and Chester to sign Mansfield striker Colin Larkin. The 23-year-old fell out with Stags boss Carlton Palmer near the end of last season and has now signed a two-year deal with the Spireites. "There was plenty of competition from other clubs for his signature," Chesterfield boss Roy McFarland said. "He is another important part of the jigsaw as we look to enhance the team with more quality players."

Weymouth make three new signings
Former Chester City and Leyton Orient midfielder Andy Harris has joined Conference South side Weymouth. Harris, 28, who also previously had a spell with Southend, has signed for the Terras after being released by Chester. Weymouth have also signed experienced left-back Trevor Challis and former Cardiff keeper Aaron-Lee Barrett, 21. Challis, 29, was released by Shrewsbury Town at the end of last season after playing earlier in his career for Bristol Rovers and QPR.

Chester boss Curle swoops for duo
Chester City boss Keith Curle has snapped up the midfield duo of Justin Walker and Craig Dove. Ex-Scunthorpe and Lincoln City man Walker, 29, moves to Chester after leaving relegated Cambridge United. Dove, 21, has signed following his departure from Rushden and Diamonds where he started 31 games last season after joining from Middlesbrough. But Curle has failed in an increased bid to bring defender David Artell, 24, from former club Mansfield Town.

Blundell's Chester move collapses
Chester have failed in their bid to sign Doncaster striker Gregg Blundell. Rovers had accepted an undisclosed six-figure bid from City for the 29-year-old, but talks between the player and Chester have broken down. "Gregg's move has not worked out so at this moment he will rejoin the squad when the players return and fight for his place," boss Dave Penney said. Blundell has scored 32 times in 96 senior appearances since joining Rovers from Northwich in March 2003.

Stags reject Chester Artell bids
Mansfield Town have rejected two bids from Chester City for 24-year-old defender Dave Artell. Former Stags boss Keith Curle returned to his old club in the hope of luring the ex-Rotherham and Shrewsbury man to the Deva Stadium. "We offered what we considered to be a fair price for Dave, but I do have other options which I will now pursue," Curle told the Evening News. "Mansfield will not budge on the matter, so we must now move on."

Wright moves for Chester's Carden
Peterborough United boss Mark Wright has returned to former club Chester to sign out-of-contract midfielder Paul Carden on a two-year contract. Carden, 26, was Chester's player of the season last term and Wright was thrilled to bring him to London Road. Wright told the club website "Paul was captain of our championship-winning side at Chester and is one of the best defensive midfielders I have seen. "He breaks things up, chases players down and has leadership qualities." Carden added: "I won the league under Mark with Chester and they were great times. I jumped at the chance to come down and have a look around. "I had been at Chester five years and this is a fresh challenge for me. I can't wait to get started."

Curle seeks damages against Stags
Keith Curle has issued a High Court claim for damages against Mansfield. He was initially suspended as Mansfield boss in December, then sacked following an internal club investigation. Curle, now Chester boss, has maintained his innocence and has been supported by the League Managers' Association. Now Curle and his LMA legal team have issued a claim for "damages for express and implied terms of his contract and a declaration for clearance of his name". Curle said: "The declaration basically means I want to be publicly exonerate of any wrongdoing. Beyond that there's nothing I can really add because it's in the hands of the LMA's lawyers."

Chester move in for keeper Neal
Chester want to sign Preston goalkeeper Chris Neal on a long-term loan. "We are close to reaching agreement with Preston," manager Keith Curle told the Liverpool Daily Post. If the moves goes ahead it will come as a blow to Tamworth, who were hoping to take the 19-year-old back to the Lamb for a second loan spell. Neal played six games for Mark Cooper's side last season before being recalled due to injury problems at Deepdale and Cooper had hoped to repeat the deal.

Stags agree Artell's Chester move
Mansfield Town have agreed a deal with Chester City which will allow central defender Dave Artell to move to the Deva Stadium. The clubs had been in dispute over the 24-year-old's future after the Stags rejected two bids from Chester. Mansfield chairman Keith Haslam had even threatened to report City to the Football League at one point. But a deal has now been agreed which will allow Artell to link up with ex-Stags boss Keith Curle at Chester.

Fans told 'stay away from match'
Police are urging football fans not to travel to a match in Chester, because no-one will be allowed in. The tie between Chester and Stoke City on Tuesday will be held behind closed doors because of problems with a safety certificate for the ground. A prohibition notice has been issued by trading standards officers, which bans spectators for the pre-season friendly at the Deva stadium. Cheshire Police say about 1,000 fans would usually be at such a game. Police will be at the ground to make sure supporters stay away.

Blundell set for Chester transfer
Chester will sign Doncaster striker Gregg Blundell for a club record £105,000 once passes a medical. Earlier in the summer Doncaster accepted a bid from Chester but talks over personal terms broke down. But now the 29-year-old, who has scored 32 times in 96 outings since joining Rovers from Northwich in March 2003, is bound for the Deva on a two-year deal. "It was good business to get a good price with one year of his contract left," said Rovers boss Dave Penney.

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