It was a tragedy that stunned the football world.

Many of the players and officials of Brazilian football team Chapecoense, en route to their first major final, the Copa Sudamericana, were killed when their plane came down in Colombia. A total of 71 people lost their lives.

The football 'family' has come together in a show of solidarity and Chester FC will pay their own respects against Guiseley this weekend, wearing green armbands for the clash.

Macca on his new number two

It probably wouldn't have escaped your attention but this week saw the appointment of Chris Iwelumo as assistant manager at Chester FC.

The 38-year-old has been hired as the replacement for Ian Sharps, who left the Blues to join Walsall as assistant to Jon Whitney last month, and made his touchline debut alongside Chester boss Jon McCarthy for the 3-0 home win over North Ferriby United on Tuesday.

Chronicle sports reporter Paul Wheelock caught up with the Chester boss this week and asked him about what Iwelumo will bring to the club. Here's what he said.

"It was difficult when I was on my own but the players, and some of the more experienced players in particular, and the support staff I have around me were excellent," said McCarthy.

"To the fact that we didn't lose a game in that spell – we drew two and won one. People know what we think about Sharpy, we've gone on record to say how influential he was, but we wanted to bring something different. Chris matches Sharpy's enthusiasm and he's full of confidence from what he achieved as a player. And that's what I want my players to feed off.

Chester FC assistant Chris Iwelumo with Sam Hughes

"It's difficult coming into the first session and the first game and I'm glad we've got that out of the way and now people will see how well he will coach. He'll develop with us, he's excited about being here, which is important. He's got so much to offer and so much for me to bounce ideas off and for him to question me and to keep driving me on. But it will be his relationship with the player that will be key – and I know that will work. As he get some time to be around them and see them he will make them feel as tall as he is, and big as he is, and as confident as he was as a player. And that can have a massive impact on our dressing room.

“There's a role model there for everybody but particularly four our four strikers at the club. He'll be able to spend a lot of time with them in training and on matchdays and giving them little bits of information and boosting their confidence. And he comes in at a good time where we feel they're starting to turn the corner."

What about injuries?

McCarthy keeps his cards close to his chest with regards to who is on the treatment table.

Luke George is back from his six-game suspension and has strengthened the squad while, on the injury front, Oluwaseun Akintunde could be another couple of weeks away from a return after his training ground injury.

Theo Vassell and Liam Roberts are both edging closer to fitness ahead of a busy December while Evan Horwood has been struggling with a rib injury for some weeks but is on the mend.

Said McCarthy: "It does feel like we're strengthening. I play it down because I've got good players right throughout, so I can change them, and some of them are desparate to get in this team, so I feel really lucky I've got such a good squad.

Chester FC skipper Luke George is back in contention

"There's strength in terms of the quality and the belief I have in them to go into the team. I feel we will have most players available for this Saturday. We will speak to the physio, try and get a few more training, and then hopefully I've got a few more problems and decisions to make for the weekend."

A play-off push?

With just one defeat in 16 National League games and his side sitting eight points off the play-off places, McCarthy isn't getting carried away.

The Blues have exceeded expectations thus far and, having endured a tough start to the campaign initially, have made plenty sit up and take notice of the work being done at the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium.

But despite having the highest number of clean sheets of any side in the top five divisions of English football , and being the sixth highest scorers in the National League, McCarthy is keen to temper expectations and not lose sight of their initial targets and where they are at as a part-time, fan-owned football club.

You can read what he had to say HERE .