Chester City FC: Fans vote in favour of official boycott as club seems to snub Conference officials

Jan 22 2010 by Alec Doyle, Chester Chronicle

BLUES fans will officially boycott Chester City’s remaining home games this season.

As reported in Thursday’s Chronicle, supporters group City Fans United has confirmed that is members will be recommended not to attend any more games at the Deva Stadium until the club is delivered into what they call ‘reputable’ hands.

An overwhelming 72% of CFU members voted in favour of a boycott in a survey conducted by the group of all it’s members.

A further 23% considered it as an option and just 5% were against the idea.

In addition 99.5% of members believed a change of ownership was essential to the club’s survival, and 98% backed the idea of launching a phoenix club should Chester City go out of business.

That matter is expected to become much clearer on Wednesday when Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs meet the Blues in the High Court over a winding up petition issued against the club to recover outstanding debts.

In a statement the CFU said: “We are now recommending, based on the supporters’ views, that all members of City Fans United officially boycott all remaining home games until such a point where the club has been placed into local, reputable ownership.

“It is also clear that the majority of CFU members want the current owners and shareholders to depart the club and sever all ties with the club.

“Chester City at present sits at its lowest ebb in its 125 year history, facing relegation to the sixth tier of football.

“During this survey, the CFU committee have made no recommendations or tried to influence its members into making this decision.”

Meanwhile The Football Conference was yesterday forced to postpone a meeting over Chester City’s future after club officials seemingly snubbed a request to attend the Conference EGM at Hinckley United.

The league asked specific, named individuals – people they told the Chronicle were ‘senior, decision-making officers’ – to attend but they did not show up.

“The club only sent one representative and he did not fit the criteria we set out,” said Conference general manager Dennis Strudwick.

“As a result we were unable to have the meeting with the club and have left the matter on the agenda for a later date.

“It is important we meet with the club as soon as possible to see where they are going.”