Applications have flooded in from prospective replacements for departed Chester FC manager Neil Young.

Chairman Tony Durkin and vice chairman Steve Ashton will begin whittling down the list of potential managers once the deadline for applications closes at 3pm tomorrow.

Young had guided the Blues to unprecedented success since taking charge in May 2010 but parted company with the club by mutual consent on Wednesday afternoon.

Assistant manager Gary Jones, who is under contract to the end of the season, has taken over as caretaker boss and has expressed an interested in staying on as manager.

"I'm employed by the club and the club is in a difficult situation so myself and the management team will give everything we have got and assist the club in anyway we can," he said.

"I have been coaching for about five years now and it's something that I enjoy and something that I want to continue doing but I have been in the game for a long time and you keep progressing yourself and the next step would be going into the manager's role."

Former Cambridge United and Luton Town manager Gary Brabin would appear to be a leading contender and would appoint Conference title-winning captain Paul Carden as his assistant if successul.

Brabin and Carden played together for Chester City in 2001-02 and are popular figures with Blues fans.

"It's definitely a job I am interested in finding out more about," said 43-year-old Brabin.

"Paul is a close friend and we are in contact every day. If I got the job and if the budget allowed then he would be my first signing.

Brabin has been out of the dugout since he was sacked by Luton in April 2012 but said he was ready to get back into management and believes he can keep the Blues up.

He said: "I don't think anyone is going to be under any illusions but I have never had a relegation on my CV and I don't want one now so I wouldn't put myself in the position if I didn't think that I could get them out of this."

Former Hyde United boss Gary Lowe has also applied for the post. He led the Tigers to the Conference North title in 2012 but then resigned having been unable to agree a new contract or playing budget with owner John Manship.

That was his last managerial job, although the 54-year-old has been linked with a host of vacancies since leaving Ewen Fields.

"Of course we are interested but I can't say anymore than that really," said Lowe, who would look to bring in ex-Crewe Alexandra defender Martyn Booty as his deputy.

"I have been down to Chester four or five times this year and it's a proper football club. It's a big job in non-league."

Former AFC Barrow boss Dave Bayliss confirmed he had applied for job.

Bayliss had a six-year spell with the Cumbrians, leading them to FA Trophy glory in 2010 and keeping them in the Conference Premier despite having a modest budget.

Relegation last season and a poor run of results in this campaign saw him leave the club in November.

"I know Chester are in a relegation battle and they need scrappers and I kept Barrow up in the Conference Premier for five years, probably with a slightly less talented squad," he said.

"I have got the battle scars. Yes, we went down last year but we had two transfer embargos and players not getting paid but we went down with 46 points and that we would enough to keep you up in any other season.

"I am not going to skirt around. I have put my CV in for the Chester job and I think my CV will rank right up there."

Airbus UK Broughton manager Andy Preece has been suggested as an ideal replacement for Young, but he is under contract until 2016 and the Wingmakers would want compensation for him.

Preece would not be drawn on the role but Wingmakers CEO Stewart Roberts said the club had not received an approach.

“It's no surprise to see him linked with the job but until such time that there is an approach it's all speculation,” said Roberts.

Steve Burr was sacked by Kidderminster Harriers this week and would be a popular choice but appears to have ruled himself out.

“I was with Kidderminster for almost four years and I’m looking to have a break from the game," he said.

Former Chester City boss Jim Harvey is friends with chairman Tony Durkin and has been heavily linked with the role but he said he had no interest in replacing Young.

“It’s not something I’m interested in and I would not be pursuing that,” he said.

With the club desperate for points, some fans will be looking for a quick appointment but the club will not rush the decision.

Ashton said the board had ‘complete faith’ in Jones and the rest of the current management team.

"We have not put a time-frame on it because it depends on the candidates and we might need a second stage of interviews," he said.

"We don't have any pre-conceived ideas in terms of the job being full-time or part-time There are a lot of factors to take into account including the candidates and the budget.

"There are lots of things to consider and we won't to rush into this decision."