Davies is delighted as City are united

Apr 11 2008 by David Triggs, Chester Chronicle

SIMON Davies is happy to have everyone at Chester City pulling in the right direction as the season heads into its final furlong.

There are only five games remaining, and the Blues know a win over Lincoln City at the Deva Stadium tomorrow would probably be enough to ensure they will be playing League Two football next season.

Davies, who took over as manager at the start of last month, yesterday reported that everyone involved with City – both the players and behind- the-scenes staff – was right behind him.

He said: “Around the club, the lads have been really good. The team togetherness, the unity we’ve showed has been good.

“I’ve had lots of support off the secretary Tony Allen and I know (managing director) Bob Gray comes in for some stick upstairs, but he’s doing a million and one jobs.

“I think I’ve had great support off him. He relays things from Mr Vaughan to me and vice versa. I think everybody around the club is pulling in the same direction and I think that’s showing out on the field.”

Davies can’t wait to secure City’s League Two safety – because it will enable the powers-that-be to begin planning for next season. The former youth team boss has been handed the manager’s job until the end of the season, but he makes no secret of his desire to land the role on a permanent basis.

Davies has his fair share of injury concerns to contend with for the visit of mid-table Lincoln – something which has been common throughout his short spell in charge.

Richie Partridge (calf) and Paul Butler (Achilles) aren’t expected to have recovered from the injuries they aggravated at Hereford on Saturday, while Chris Holroyd remains sidelined with a gashed heel and James Vaughan probably won’t be risked as he has a hamstring problem.

Davies said: “James Vaughan’s a difficult one. It’s trying to keep him on the leash because he’s dying to play.

“Because it’s a hamstring injury, if he played it’s one of them where you can tear it. We’ll look at the bigger picture.”

Although Tony Grant and Nathan Lowndes are also out, Tony Dinning returns to the selection frame following a one-match suspension.

The Imps are managed by Peter Jackson, but the former Chester defender has taken a break from work to receive treatment for throat cancer.