Chester City

Davies to decide on keeper deal
Chester City manager Simon Davies will monitor the progress of goalkeeper Chris Sanna throughout pre-season before deciding on whether to keep him. Davies told BBC Radio Merseyside he was reasonably happy with the trialist's performance in the 2-2 draw against Southport on Tuesday night. "He did well," said Davies. "He made good decisions, he came out and took crosses so we'll keep an open mind. "We'll have a look throughout pre-season and see how it goes." Sanna played 45 minutes of Chester's opening pre-season game at Southport's Haig Avenue. He did concede a penalty, a decision which Davies felt was was harsh. But the spot-kick was fired wide and Sanna kept a clean sheet in his first-half appearance. The game ended 2-2, goals from Lawrence Wilson and Paul McManus putting City ahead, only for the Sandgrounders to come back and claim a draw. John Danby, who ended last term in great form, has not missed a game in his two seasons at the Deva and id due to start the new campaign as City's first-choice No 1.

Chester blueprint to rebuild Deva
Chester City have announced plans for a multi-million pound reconstruction of their 16-year-old Deva Stadium home. City chairman Stephen Vaughan is close to finalising a deal with a Liverpool-based property developer. And the club hope to start work early next year on a project that would mean a big increase their 6,000 capacity. Chester, in the lower half of League Two, have been at the Deva since moving back to the city after two years of exile in Macclesfield in August 1992. They attracted fewer than 3,000 for Sunday's border derby with Shrewsbury Town, who provided more than half the crowd. But Property First Asset Managament Ltd managing director Gary Metcalf is very excited by the potential of the ground, which straddles the England-Wales border. "We have been working alongside Stephen Vaughan and Chester City for the past nine months as we have plans to make the Deva Stadium one of the best in the league," said Metcalf. "We do know there is another bid on the table. But, in our opinion, our bid seems a lot more attractive. "And, provided it is approved by Chester City Council, work could start as early as January 2009." Chester are a long way short of the sort of gates they used to attract at their old Sealand Road home, which they left in 1990. But Metcalf said: "The potential of the club is huge. And, if we are given the opportunity, then it would have a big impact on the club, the fans and the local community. "And the council will earn a lot of money, as they own the stadium." Although they have plans for all four sides of the ground, the main East Stand will be the most dramatically altered. Under the proposed scheme, it would be turned into a four-tier structure, housing 40,000 square feet of office facilities, a gymnasium, cafe and bistro, new lounges, plus several retail outlets.

Davies annoyed at Taylor no-show
Chester City manager Simon Davies has revealed his frustration at striker Paul Taylor for his non-appearance in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Chesterfield. The 20-year-old, on loan from Vauxhall Motors, cited illness as the reason for his absence. "He was a no-show at Grimsby and it has been happening a lot in training," Davies told Radio Merseyside. "It's time to expose him. We showed a lot of spirit at Chesterfield and he's at the opposite end of the scale." Taylor has previously been subject to both a verbal and written warning from City officials this season. The former Manchester City trainee has featured nine times for Chester but is yet to score for the Deva Stadium club.

Chester 'terrific' despite defeat
Chester City manager Simon Davies feels his side did not deserve to lose to Gillingham in Saturday's 2-0 defeat. Goals from on-loan Tottenham pair Andy Barcham and Leigh Mills condemned City to their third defeat in a row. "It's a tough one to take, especially off the back of two defeats already," Davies told Radio Merseyside. "We were awful against Rochdale and this was a terrific response. It's everything I could have wished for, but we had one of those days."

Davies unhappy with referee Cook
Chester City manager Simon Davies was critical of the role referee Steven Cook played in his side's 2-0 League Two defeat at Exeter on Saturday. Adam Stansfield and Matt Taylor scored for Exeter, who also were denied from the penalty spot by John Danby, after a disputed Kevin Roberts handball. "I thought the referee was very poor, it was like we were playing against 12 men," Davies told Radio Merseyside. "It was very frustrating, we're just desperate to win a football match."

Chester part company with Davies
Chester City have parted company with manager Simon Davies following a poor run of results this season. City, who were knocked out of the FA Cup by Millwall last weekend, are 19th in League Two after winning just three out of 15 league matches. Welshman Davies, who took over from previous boss Bobby Williamson in March, signed a two-year deal in April. Assistant manager Wayne Allison is expected to be offered a caretaker role for Saturday's game with Morecambe. Chester have suffered some heavy defeats this season - losing 6-0 at Dagenham & Redbridge and 6-1 at Rochdale while also going down 5-2 against Leeds in the Carling Cup. They did beat Barnet 5-1 but results apart from that were largely disappointing.

Chester reappoint Wright as boss
Chester City have reappointed former boss Mark Wright for a third spell as manager at the Deva Stadium. The 45-year-old replaces Simon Davies, who was sacked on Tuesday, and has brought Steve Bleasdale, his assistant from his first spell, with him. The managerial team have been appointed on a non-contract basis and take charge with Chester 19th in League Two. Wright, who first arrived in City's non-league days in 2002, guided the club to the Conference title in 2004. He then resigned on the eve of Chester's return to the Football League, but returned 18 months later, this time with City legend Graham Barrow as his number two. Wright helped City stay up but his tenure lasted only 14 months and he resigned a week before the end of the season in April 2007. Bobby Williamson was appointed his successor but, after a storming start to the season, City then went on an awful post-Christmas slide - and it cost Williamson his job in March. Academy coach Davies was promoted to the City hot seat, just doing enough to keep the club in the Football League. But Davies was sacked following City's FA Cup exit at home to Millwall last weekend, following a run of just one win in 11 games. And City have now turned once again to Wright, who was first linked with a third return to the club back in August, as part of Chester's ambitious plans both on and off the pitch. For Bleasdale, it is a return to Chester for the first time since he was on Wright's backroom staff during City's days in the Conference. He then followed Wright to Peterborough, where he was briefly in charge, earning notoriety for his cameo role as part of a Ron Atkinson TV documentary.

Wright keen to see embargo lifted
Chester City manager Mark Wright hopes the Football League lift their transfer embargo on the League Two club as soon as possible so he can add to his squad. The embargo has been in place since June, when the Professional Footballer Association claimed some players at the Deva Stadium had not been paid. "There's still an embargo on the club," Wright told Radio Merseyside. "We're meeting on Thursday with the chairman and board to look through it. If we can turn it round, that's great." Wright was speaking after Tuesday's 2-2 draw with fellow strugglers Luton which saw his side battle back from two goals down to pick up a point. He says he knows what he needs to strengthen his squad and has made a new target-man his priority. "The players that we've highlighted that we want in, and that we could get in, are real good players," Wright explained. "We need someone that can hold the ball up top and make it stick so we can get around teams. "At this moment in time that is not really happening. The ball is coming back too quickly."

Chester and Bleasdale part ways
Chester City have revealed they parted company with assistant coach Steve Bleasdale prior to the 0-0 draw with Exeter on Saturday. The ex-Peterborough caretaker manager joined City when Mark Wright was re-appointed as boss in November. "I'm not happy with certain things," Wright told BBC Radio Merseyside. "Both the chairman and myself made the decision and asked him to stay away. There are a few things we are not happy about over what has happened." He added: "Some things behind the scenes I feel very let down by and I'm not prepared to elaborate anymore on that." But Wright was more than pleased with his side's effort and commitment in the draw at the Deva on Saturday despite the loss of Bleasdale. "We'll just get on with it," said Wright. "I think the boys responded to what I want and put in probably put in the best performance or the most workmanlike performance since I've been here. "I am happy with what they have done."

Manager Wadsworth leaves Chester
Chester City have parted company with manager Mick Wadsworth after Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat at home to Forest Green, reports BBC Radio Merseyside. Wadsworth, 58, was appointed at the Deva Stadium on 29 June, succeeding former Liverpool defender Mark Wright. But City, who started the season late under a 25-point penalty, have won just twice in 13 Blue Square Premier games. And Tuesday night's reverse to fellow strugglers Forest Green was their fifth home defeat in seven games at the Deva. Much-travelled former Newcastle United assistant manager Wadsworth has brought in more than a dozen players in a bid to transform the club's fortunes. But, although the club are still appealing against the second of their pre-season points deductions, City are still 24 points adrift of safety. This place is full of negativity and its really difficult. I've not known an environment like it Mick Wadsworth, prior to parting company with Chester City "The club is in poor shape," said Wadsworth. "And it needs to be steadied to allow it to get into safer waters. "It has a battle ahead, and I thought I was the man to take it forward, but I wish it well for the future." Wadsworth's number two Simon Davies, who himself had an eight-month spell in charge last year, has also left the club. And, while City look to make a 14th managerial appointment in 10 years, experienced defender Tim Ryan and physio Billy Gerrard will take charge of the team for this Saturday's trip to Hayes & Yeading. Speaking after Tuesday night's defeat, less than 24 hours before his departure, Wadsworth painted a picture of a club shrouded in gloom. "I've not known an environment like it," he told BBC Radio Merseyside. "This place is full of negativity and it's really difficult. "It's so negative at times it's very worrying." "There is less stress, pressure and negativity away from home." It accounts for why City have drawn their last five away games, including last Sunday's 0-0 local derby stalemate with neighbours Wrexham, yet have struggled in front of their own fans, where crowds have dipped even further since their second relegation in nine years in May. But Wadsworth still admits that the display his team gave against fellow strugglers Forest Green in what proved to be his final game at the helm was far from what he expected. THE CHESTER HOT SEAT Mick Wadsworth, 29 June-30 Sept Mark Wright 11 Nov 08-22 June 09 Simon Davies 2 Mar-11 Nov 08 Bobby Williamson 11 May 07-2 Mar 08 Mark Wright 21 Feb 06-30 Apr 07 Keith Curle 2 May 05-19 Feb 06 Ian Rush 30 Aug 04-5 Apr 05 Mark Wright 9 Jan 02-6 Aug 04 Steve Mungall 8 Oct-26 Dec 01 Gordon Hill 13 Jul-8 Oct 01 Graham Barrow 1 Jun 00-22 Jun 01 Ian Atkins 20 Jan-31 May 00 Terry Smith 21 Aug 99-20 Jan 00 Kevin Ratcliffe 20 Apr 95-21 Aug 99 "We were rubbish first half and good second half, it was as simple as that," said Wadsworth. "We gave ourselves too much to do. We knew how we wanted to start and we talked about that and didn't do it. "I never want to be negative against the lads because they are a great bunch. "But we didn't have one player in the first half that was on top of his job. Our 10 players were second best to their 10 players." Whoever gets the Chester job will become the 10th manager appointed by owner Stephen Vaughan since he took charge of the club in October 2001.

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