DEFIANT Blues fans are likely to press ahead with plans to launch a ‘phoenix club’ if Chester City are expelled from the league today.
Football Conference bosses are fast losing patience with crisis-torn City, who face being booted out of the Blue Square Premier mid-season after another traumatic week.
After failing to raise a team for Tuesday’s match at Forest Green Rovers, Chester were dealt a fresh blow yesterday when unpaid policing costs forced Sunday’s derby with Wrexham at the Deva Stadium to be called off.
Conference officials will meet this morning to decide whether to kick the Blues out – which could effectively spell the end of the club in its current guise.
But City fans, many of whom have been boycotting games in protest at the way the club is being run, are determined to protect the future of professional football in the city.
Official supporters club City Fans United has issued a rallying call to its members and wants the council to step in if the worst happens this morning.
Jeff Banks, CFU board member and lifelong Chester fan, said: “It’s edging closer to CFU’s plan B. Plan A was to save the club as it is, which increasingly may not happen, but plan B is the phoenix club, and we want to be in a situation to see that happening.
“It’s constantly looking like it could be the end, but people are prepared for it and the council needs to support us as well.
“The council could take the issue and give the club to the fans – the taxpayers. The alternative is a derelict Deva Stadium, and no-one wants that.
“If the Deva Stadium was taken away, that would be disastrous, and make it nigh-on impossible for any club to play football in Chester.
“We have got great links with Supporters Direct, and there is a huge family of fans in Chester. We need to tap into that, but we know they won’t come back to the stadium until the Vaughan regime has gone.”
Mr Banks is appalled by the club’s plight.
He said: “It’s ludicrous how the owners have let the club get in this situation. It’s just another indication of how far the club has fallen, and a perfect example of how the club should not be run.”
He added: “It’s bad news after bad news now, but we need to look forward. I really want people to join CFU. We are heading toward 600 members and the fans need to make a stand. We just want a well-run club.”
Chester, who face being wound-up by HM Revenue & Customs on March 10, remain on sale for £1, but on the condition any potential purchaser will be willing to pay off all of the club’s outstanding creditors. The Chronicle understands City’s debts total just over £700,000, including a £485,911 loan from the Vaughan family.
The Blues are scheduled to host Kidderminster Harriers on Wednesday (7.45pm).
See pages 4-5 for more news on the Blues.
