Chester City

Chester put Westwood up for sale
Chester City have transfer-listed the well travelled and experienced central defender Ashley Westwood. Westwood, 30, has been made available by "mutual consent," according to the League Two side. The former Crewe, Bradford and Sheffield Wednesday player joined Chester last summer on a two-year deal from Northampton Town. However, Westwood started only 25 games for Chester and ended the season on loan at Swindon Town.

Chester recruit ex-Altrincham man
Chester City have signed former Altrincham midfielder Adam Walker, 20. Walker did not figure in the league for Altrincham after coming through their youth set-up but impressed City boss Bobby Williamson in a trial spell. "The lad has shown up well in training and he gives us options in the wide midfield positions," Williamson told the club's website. Chester want to sign players before the transfer window closes but must release players to stay within the salary cap.

Williamson salutes convincing win
Boss Bobby Williamson was naturally delighted after Chester beat Dagenham & Redbridge 4-0 to move level on points with League Two leaders Darlington. "I was a bit apprehensive before the game because the training went superbly well," Williamson explained. "It makes you think, is it going to be a banana skin? But we've been professional and done the job. "I didn't envisage there being four goals in the second half, but I can't complain with the performance."

Westwood in, Cardle out at Vale
Port Vale have signed Chester defender Ashley Westwood, while allowing winger Joe Cardle to join Clyde on loan. Westwood, 31 on Friday, joined Chester last summer but was transfer-listed by mutual consent in August. Vale say they have signed him "until Christmas", but have not made it clear whether it is a loan deal or a permanent transfer. Cardle, 20, has made 17 first-team appearances since his debut in 2005 and has joined Clyde until Christmas. "We wanted to give him three or four months' football somewhere," Vale boss Martin Foyle told his club's website. "(Clyde boss) Colin Hendry, who is a good friend on mine, will look after him and then give us the feedback we need."

Hartson rejects Chester approach
West Bromwich Albion striker John Hartson has rejected an approach from League Two club Chester. City made an audacious attempt to sign the former Wales international, 32, on loan with a view to the move being made permanent in January. But Chester chief executive Bob Gray told the Wrexham and Flintshire Evening Leader: "The player won't drop down to play in League Two. "John Hartson feels that he needs to play at a higher level."

Draw was fair result - Williamson
Chester boss Bobby Williamson felt that "a draw was a fair result" after they drew 2-2 with local rivals Wrexham. "It was end to end stuff, and it was a great derby match with a great atmosphere," Williamson said. However, he was concerned after experienced midfield pair Tony Grant and Tony Dinning both went off injured. "It leaves us a bit bare in that area - we have a couple of youngsters who may get a chance depending on how serious the two Tonys' injuries are."

Chester chairman Vaughan resigns
Stephen Vaughan has resigned as Chester City chairman and director after six years at the club. The surprise news of Vaughan's departure came just before Saturday's 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Peterborough United. A statement on the club's official website read: "No further statements will be issued however there will be further news this week." Vaughan remains the club's majority shareholder and owner. A planned press conference called for Tuesday, which was thought to be about the issue of the ownership of the club, has been cancelled.

Chester confirm interest in club
Chester have started talks for the sale of ex-chairman Stephen Vaughan's shares to sports marketing group Sport-6. Vaughan resigned as chairman and director on Saturday but remains the owner and majority shareholder. A statement on the club's website read: "Chester has recently entered into negotiations with Sport-6 regarding the sale of Stephen Vaughan's shares. "The negotiations, which were subject to a confidentiality agreement, have been leaked on a fans' message board."

Bennett returns to Kidderminster
Chester City midfielder Dean Bennett has joined Kidderminster Harriers on loan until the end of the season for his third spell at the club. Earlier this season the 30-year-old, who played more than 200 games for Harriers between 1999 and 2004, spent three months on loan at Aggborough. "Benno is a good player, he brings energy to our side and he knows the game," said manager Mark Yates. "He's getting better and better and we're glad to have him back." Yates added: "He's getting better and better and we're glad to have him back. We know what qualities he brings and on that score we're delighted." Bennett will be eligible to play for Harriers at York in the Conference on Saturday.

Ellison's Stockport move in doubt
Kevin Ellison's proposed move from Chester to Stockport has hit a snag with "objections raised by the player". The 28-year-old winger was expected to arrive on loan until the end of the season, before signing a permanent contract in the summer. A club statement read: "The deal that would have seen Kevin Ellison move to Stockport on loan is now in question due to objections raised by the player. "Ellison had been due to move once the transfer window re-opened on Friday." He originally joined Stockport in November 2001 and went on to make 52 appearances for the Hatters.

Chester to report Inverness to FA
Chester City are to report Scottish Premier League side Inverness Caledonian Thistle to the FA. The League Two outfit allege that the Scottish side have made an illegal approach for two of their unnamed contracted players. Chester director Bob Gray said: "This is extremely annoying. We are sending a full report to the FA." Inverness assistant Malky Thomson has denied the claims. He said: "I have not made any approach to any players." Thomson was previously under employment at Chester and he believes that his connection with the relegation battlers is partially to blame for the claims arising. "I think somewhere along the line something has been misconstrued and I'm hoping that in the next couple of days that it will all be ironed out. "Caley Thistle go about things in the correct manner and I certainly go about my business in the correct manner so I am quite taken aback by the allegation to be honest with you."

We'll get point we need - Davies
Chester City head in to this week's final two games of their season knowing they still need a point to guarantee next term's Football League status. City end the season with back-to-back home games against Stockport on Tuesday night, then Macclesfield on Saturday. And City manager Simon Davies told SSB that he is confident his side can get that point against promotion-chasing Stockport. "We will meet them head on," he said. "And we'll get the point that we need." Davies can at least feel encouraged by his team picking up an away point from the 0-0 draw at Shrewsbury on Saturday - only their fifth in the 10 matches since he took charge. Chester might have scored just six times in Davies' 10 games at the helm. But Saturday's result - marshalled by a superb performance from centre-half Paul Linwood - earned City their first clean sheet since 4 December.

Chester duo seek end to dispute
Former Chester City captain Paul Butler and midfielder Tony Dinning are to meet with club officials and the PFA in an attempt to end their current stand off. The pair are in dispute after having been suspended for an unspecified "serious breach of club discipline" last month. Both have another year to run on their contracts but are not expected to play for the club again. Butler and Dinning are due to hold their meetings later in the week.

Chester lambast transfer embargo
Chester City are citing "shabby" treatment after being handed a transfer embargo by the Football League. A Professional Footballers' Association statement claimed "the majority of the players at the club have not received any payment for two months, or more". But the main issue surrounds ex-City captain Paul Butler and Tony Dinning, who are in dispute with the club. And City managing director Bob Gray said a meeting had already been convened to resolve that matter. The PFA said in their statement on Friday that they have "provided financial assistance to the club for some time to assist in the payment of players' wages". But Gray said: "All the current players who are contracted for next season have been paid up to date. "It has been widely publicised that we are in dispute with Paul Butler and Tony Dinning. "We have made arrangements to meet officials of the Football League to sort out this shambles. "And I think it is shabby that the PFA have seen fit to release a statement on their website, when they are in full possession of the details of our proposed meeting. "We have taken legal advice and we shall vigorously defend our stance in the Butler/Dinning dispute." Chester's veteran defender Butler was a contender for the manager's job when Bobby Williamson was sacked in March. But the post went instead to youth-team chief Simon Davies. And neither Butler nor Dinning have been involved at the Deva Stadium since their fall-out with the club in mid-April. The embargo means that the arrival of 22-year-old former Yeovil midfielder Anthony Barry, announced on Thursday, billed as Davies' first signing, may now be in doubt.

Chester free to bring in players
Chester City have been cleared by the Football League to sign players. An article on the Professional Footballers' Association website suggested that the club were under a transfer embargo. But the League accepted City's version of events after a meeting on Tuesday, and their signing of midfielder Anthony Barry will go through. They have since announced the signings of Jay Harris and David Mannix, both released by Accrington Stanley. Midfielders Harris, 21, and Mannix, 22, have signed two-year contracts at the Deva Stadium. Chester chairman Stephen Vaughan told the club website: "We have been told that we are not embargoed as was stated by the PFA, and as such we are free to bring in players within the current wage capping rules." City remain in dispute with Tony Dinning and Paul Butler.

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