Chester FC manager Steve Burr is hoping that Kingsley James’ future will be resolved without the need for a tribunal, but described an offer for the midfielder from FC Halifax Town as ‘derisory’.
Midfielder James, 23, rejected the offer of a new deal at with the Blues at the end of the season, citing his desire to move to a club closer to his Barnsley home.
The Blues are entitled to compensation for James under the Bosman ruling after offering him an improved deal at the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium.
Despite rumoured interest from other clubs, the Shaymen are the only club to have made a bid for James, but Chester boss Burr says that the offer from their Vanarama National League rivals fell well below the Blues’ valuation.
“We had an offer from Halifax but it was derisory and we have been in touch with them to let them know that it wasn’t acceptable to us,” said Burr.
“The ball is in their court if they want to come back and make an improved bid for Kingsley.
“Hopefully we can get something sorted in the near future because we don’t want to go down the road of a tribunal setting the fee.”
Grimsby Town had been suggested suitors for the former Port Vale and Hereford man but their assistant manager Chris Doig moved to quash the speculation linking him with a Mariners move.
“There isn’t any interest from us to my knowledge,” Doig told the Grimsby Telegraph.
"With Kingsley, there'd be a fee involved because of his age and even if we were interested, in my mind, that would be the main obstacle that would stop that one from happening."
England C international James was a mainstay of the Chester team last season after joining in the summer from Hereford United on a 12-month deal, making 40 appearances and scoring two goals in the Vanarama Conference last term.
