NEVER before has the very existence of Chester City Football Club hung so much in the balance.
Ailing City were not able to field a team at Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday night and have now been told their derby at home to Wrexham on Sunday will not be allowed to go ahead.
The postponements are a consequence of the club’s desperate financial plight and have left their long-suffering supporters fearing that the club’s 125th year will be its last.
Chester have stumbled from crisis to crisis in the last year but never before have they failed to fulfil their fixtures, and their inability to do so means they face being kicked out of the Football Conference this morning.
A Conference statement released last night said: “The board of directors of the Football Conference has been in dialogue all day with regard to the future of Chester City Football Club following the club’s failure to fulfil its league fixture at Forest Green Rovers.
“Further news has been received today that Chester City’s home derby fixture with Wrexham on Sunday has been postponed after Trading Standards of Cheshire West and Chester Council issued a prohibition notice on the Deva Stadium.
“These discussions will be on going throughout the evening and a decision is expected to be made by mid-morning tomorrow.”
Blues director Bob Gray told The Chronicle: “We’re always hopeful and now it’s in the hands of the authorities.
“There are a multitude of things that got us into this position.
“It’s not for the want of trying, and if we’re still able to make it then we'll continue fighting.”
The visit of neighbours Wrexham was yesterday called off after the council announced they would be closing the Deva for the clash in the interest of spectator safety, following the police’s refusal to staff the match.
Cash-strapped City missed the deadline to pay Cheshire Police for use of their officers, leaving CWAC with no other option but to close the Deva.
Andrew Rees, team leader of investigations and complaints at CWAC Trading Standards, said: “With all the history attached to past meetings of such great rivals, playing the match without policing inside the ground would present an unacceptable risk.
“It is considered in these circumstances that spectator safety cannot be guaranteed and that there is a serious risk of injury or harm to spectators.”
Two separate Conference officials told The Chronicle the match will not be allowed to take place behind closed doors.
The Blues were unable to play their game at Forest Green on Tuesday because of a lack of players – and after they failed to pay the company of the coach carrying the team in time.
Supporters who have purchased tickets for Sunday’s game should make contact with the supplier of the tickets for advice on alternative arrangements or funds.
