CHESTER FC boss Neil Young has been frustrated in his attempts to re-sign fans’ favourite Craig Curran.

The versatile forward was a big hit during a loan spell with the Blues last season.

But there is now no chance he will be returning to the Exacta Stadium on a permanent basis.

Up until Tuesday Young was confident he had a deal in place with Curran.

But he has been blown out of the water by a club offering the 23-year-old the chance to remain professional – and more money.

Young said: “He’s had an offer from somewhere else that is just too good to turn down.

“We were quite close to completing the deal but he’s been offered full-time football and a better deal financially.”

The Chronicle understands Limerick are the club who have won the race for Curran.

The former Tranmere Rovers frontman, whose contract at Rochdale expires this month, is currently on loan at the League of Ireland Premier Division outfit.

Young has no hard no feelings toward Curran and will now redouble his efforts to sign the other strikers on his shortlist.

But he admits a combination of a small budget and his own high standards could prove a problem.

“We’re trying to make sure we are getting quality,” said Young, who has made six signings so far and wants to add at least another six before the Conference Premier campaign kicks off on August 10.

“Being part-time and having a low budget doesn’t make it easy to sell the club to some players.

“Maybe my standards are a bit too high, maybe I have to start dropping them a little bit.

“But at this moment I know the calibre of player I want and until that player is no longer available I will continue to go down that road.

“We could easily go out and sign this player and that player but they’ve got to fit in with what we’re aiming to do – and that’s compete and finish as high as we can in the Conference.

“We’re setting our sights as high as we possibly can but the window of players at our disposal is very small.”

Chester return to pre-season training on Tuesday.

Young has warned his players not to expect to kick a ball in anger until the club’s first pre-season friendly, away to Heswall on Friday, July 12.

The 2013-14 Conference Premier fixtures are released on Friday, July 5.

Meet Chester FC’s new marketing man – see page 78.