TONY Dinning could be heading for the Deva Stadium exit door – but the Blues are determined to keep hold of top-scorer Ryan Lowe.

Veteran midfielder Dinning was due to start a week-long trial with Scottish Premier League strugglers Inverness Caledonian Thistle today.

He has already been told by Chester boss Mark Wright that he does not feature in his long-term plans, so the trial represents an opportunity to secure regular first-team football before his City contract expires in the summer.

Lowe, meanwhile, is being tracked by a host of clubs after starring for Chester this season. According to Blues chief executive Bob Gray, only a significant offer would lure the 30-year-old away.

Gray said: “It is only natural that Ryan’s impressive form has been noticed by other clubs, but unless we receive a massive offer that we couldn’t turn down, as far as we are concerned Ryan will stay here.

“We want to build our team around our better players and Ryan is definitely one of our better players. Mark (Wright) has stabilised things on the pitch and like me he definitely wants Ryan to stay with Chester City and be a part of our future.”

Dinning was due to fly to Scotland yesterday to link up with Inverness, whose assistant manager is the former Chester number two Malky Thomson.

Gray confirmed: “The Inverness manager, Craig Brewster, contacted us and asked if Tony could spend some time with them.

“If Inverness and the player like each other then it could well lead to a permanent transfer.”

Chester need to offload players before they can bring any in as they are at the limit of their wage cap.

One player who will be out of the first-team picture for some time is midfielder Stephen Vaughan.

The former Liverpool reserve, 24 later this month, has been dogged by an Achilles problem for the last two years. He must undergo further surgery on the problem and faces being ruled out for the remainder of the season.