Taylor made for Davies

May 16 2008 by David Triggs, Chester Chronicle

HAVING secured the services of their defensive linchpin, Chester City are closing in on a player who can do the business at the other end of the pitch.

Boss Simon Davies, who this week saw player of the season Paul Linwood sign a two-year deal, has made finding a mobile strike partner for John Murphy one of his main priorities.

Vauxhall Motors forward Paul Taylor fits the bill and Blues owner Stephen Vaughan yesterday put in a £30,000 bid for the one-time Manchester City trainee, who has 12 months left on his contract.

Davies said last night: “There has been interest in Paul and we’re just waiting on replies back from Vauxhall. It’s all up in the air but he would be the type of player we are looking for, with mobility and pace.”

Taylor has been on Chester’s radar since his impressive performance against them in a friendly at Rivacre Park last July. The Blues made a failed £50,000 for him in January but, despite keeping hold of their 17-goal top-scorer until the end of the season, Vauxhall were unable to avoid relegation from Blue Square North to the UniBond League.

Although cash is in short supply at Rivacre Park, the Motormen are not thought to be in any hurry to sell their star player and may drive a hard bargain.

If Taylor agrees a move to the Deva, it will come as a further boost for Blues fans, who were buoyed by Linwood’s decision to pledge his future to the club on Wednesday.

It was a major coup for Chester and Davies, who said: “It was really important for us to get Paul. He’s been one of the best players not just in our team, but in the league. We can start building around him.”

Davies has vowed to make sure the players he brings in this summer gel on and off the field. This follows his well-documented off- field problems with three senior pros – Simon Marples, Tony Dinning and Paul Butler – last term.

All three were frozen out of the first-team picture by Davies, who management style has quickly developed a ruthless streak.

Davies said: “Personality is massive. We’ve showed that when you get the right people together, you’ve got half a chance.

“It’s not just about getting the players in just on merit. It’s also to do with the way they’re going to fight for Chester City FC.”

City have not had things all their own way this week, however.

They failed in an attempt to lure Wrexham defender Carl Tremarco to the Deva, with the 22-year-old full-back likely to choose non-league football with the Dragons over playing in the Football League.

More Blues news – page 74.