Chester City FC: Council set 25-day deadline to parties interested in moving in at Deva Stadium

Mar 25 2010 Chester Chronicle

CHESHIRE West and Chester Council last night set a 25-day deadline to groups interested in running a football club out of the Deva Stadium.

The council last week recovered the lease on the ground after Chester City FC 2004 Ltd were wound up.

Now council leader Mike Jones is warning all parties planning to preserve football in the city that they must notify the authority of their intentions by Monday, April 19.

Cllr Jones said: “We will obviously have to examine the business case of anyone interested in running a club at the Deva Stadium before making a decision on a new tenant, and we are running out of time to undertake this process.”

The council, which owns the Deva, set the date in order to satisfy their own demands and those of the FA.

Cllr Jones added: “This authority is willing to talk to anyone with the best interests of Chester and football at heart, and a good business case to support their aspirations.”

The authority will look favourably on a business plan that embraces the vision of a community club.

City Fans United, the Supporters’ Trust body with more than 1,000 members, has submitted their proposals to the council and has also informed the FA that they want to reform the now-defunct Chester City FC.

An FA spokesperson last night told The Chronicle they have received “several expressions of interest” in reforming the club.

Only one application for a reformed club will be considered for placement in the National League System and it is understood that the ball is in the court of CFU.