Chester FC have finalised short-term deals with pre-season trialists Dale Tonge and Dylan Forth.

The pair have impressed boss Steve Burr over the past month and have now been added to the squad for the 2015-16 campaign, which begins this weekend.

Tonge's initial deal takes him through to the end of August, but the 30-year-old should be offered an extension once a tribunal panel decides how much the club will receive for Kingsley James, who switched to FC Halifax Town after turning down a new contract.

Manchester-based Forth left Premier League club Aston Villa at the end of last season and the 18-year-old has joined on a non-contract basis.

Ex-Aston Villa keeper Dylan Forth has joined the Blues on a non-contract basis
Ex-Aston Villa keeper Dylan Forth has joined the Blues on a non-contract basis

Burr said: "Dylan's put pen to paper and he's a young lad whose come in from Aston Villa after he got released in the summer. He's showed up very well.

"It will be a non-contract to start with and obviously if he gets his opportunity then we'll look at a longer term deal or a contract for him further down the line.

"I'm delighted to get him in as he'll work well with Jon Worsnop. Jon's a big help on the training ground and we've brought Karl Lineghan in as goalkeeping coach so the three of them will work well together."

Barnsley-born Tonge, who departed Torquay United at the end of last term, featured in each of the seven pre-season games. He played alongside new captain Ian Sharps during five seasons at Rotherham United.

He will challenge Ryan Higgins for the right-back spot, but provides cover in midfield too.

Burr plans to use some of the proceeds from the club's Crowdfunder project, which surpassed £5,000 inside 24 hours, to secure Tonge on a longer-term basis.

He said: "We've managed to sign Dale Tonge on a short-term deal just for a month to start with so hopefully with Crowdfunder we'll be able to keep him for a little bit longer.

Dale Tonge has impressed for Chester FC during pre-season
Dale Tonge has impressed for Chester FC during pre-season