RICKY Ravenhill may not have played his last game for Chester City - despite being forced to rejoin Doncaster Rovers.

The midfielder signed for the Blues on a month's loan at the end of July and was set to make his move from Belle Vue permanent this week.

But the Football League refused to sanction Ravenhill's proposed transfer as the deal would have pushed City's wage bill above 60% of their turnover - exceeding the cap imposed on all League Two clubs.

Chester manager Mark Wright, however, remains a huge admirer of Ravenhill - and has not ruled out the possibility of bringing the 25-year-old back to the club in the future.

Wright said: 'I never say never and we can't be losing players like Ricky. He's very important to us.

'He's a fantastic midfield player and I've got a lot of time for him.

'At this moment in time we can't do a deal for him but time will tell.'

Ravenhill would have been suspended for tonight's home clash with Swindon following his sending off against Wrexham last month.

He joined Chester this summer after being deemed surplus to requirements at Doncaster by boss Dave Penney, who was this week sacked by the Yorkshire club.

Wright realises that a change of management at Doncaster could see Ravenhill come back into favour.

'If someone else goes back in there they might see big pluses in him and we might lose him,' admitted the Chester boss. 'But that's life - that's football and there's not a lot we can do about it.'

As the transfer window slammed shut yesterday, Chester officials were locked in discussions with the Football League's management in a bid to clear up their salary-cap problems.

A number of other League Two clubs are in the same boat as City and those either close to or over their respective limits include tonight's visitors, Swindon Town.

The Robins signed Paul Ince on a one-year deal yesterday but the transfer is subject to Football League approval and he is unlikely to feature tonight.

The move had been in the balance as it was thought the former England midfielder's wages would see Town exceed their salary cap.

Chester were yesterday hoping to create space in their budget by selling three players - Jermaine McSporran, Graham Allen and Michael Branch - before the transfer window closed.

But when the Chronicle went to press, the out-of-favour trio were still on the club's books.

No permanent transfers can take place until the window reopens on New Year's Day, but loans and deals involving free agents are still permitted.