Ellison to stay at the Deva

Feb 8 2008 by David Triggs, Chester Chronicle

KEVIN Ellison’s transfer to Stockport County has fallen through and the winger is staying at Chester City.

Blues owner Stephen Vaughan yesterday revealed the forward’s on-off move across Cheshire to Edgeley Park was very definitely off.

Vaughan said: “Kevin Ellison is a Chester City player and he’ll just get on with the contract he has at this football club.”

It is unclear exactly why the deal has fallen through, but Vaughan added: “It’s gone. The deal’s dead in the water. We’ve told the player, told the agent and had a conversation with Stockport County.”

Chester had agreed a deal to loan Ellison – their top scorer this season – to the Hatters last Saturday and the move was expected to go through when the transfer window for loan deals opened yesterday.

The intention was for County to snap up the 28-year-old on a permanent deal in the summer, but complications arose earlier this week and the two clubs were unable to come to a satisfactory solution – so Ellison stays.

In a separate development yesterday, the Blues re-signed former captain Stephen Vaughan junior.

The 22-year-old midfielder – son of club owner Stephen and older brother of City defender James – first joined City in 2004 but left in January last year for Boston United.

A serious Achilles injury put him on the sidelines for nine months and he became a free agent.

After working his way back to full fitness by playing for Chester’s reserves, he has now become a permanent member of boss Bobby Williamson’s squad.

The Chester manager yesterday refused to rule out the possibility of adding further new faces.

Although the transfer window has closed, it is still possible to recruit players on loan and free agents.

Williamson said: “You never know. There are players I’m aware of and it only takes a phone call.

“Until that phone call is made and those players are signed, there’s not much point in us talking about it.”

With a busy programme of fixtures ahead – starting with tomorrow’s home clash with Accrington, a trip to Dagenham on Tuesday and a meeting with Notts County tomorrow week – Williamson knows he will need a strong squad at his disposal.

“We’ve got three games next week and we’ve got to take as many points out of those games as possible to get us back up there,” he said.

“I’m hoping the lads are looking forward to the challenge.

“I’m not really too fussed how the Accrington game goes, as long as we finish up with one goal more than them. That’ll do for me.”