CHESTER City manager Bobby Williamson is “seriously worried” by Stephen Vaughan’s shock decision to quit the club and fears his team’s promotion challenge could “come apart at the seams”.

Vaughan quit as chairman and director on Saturday, with the news being made public just 15 minutes before Chester’s home match against Peterborough United kicked-off.

Mystery surrounds the Liverpool businessman’s departure and he was unavailable for comment today.

Concerned by the weekend’s surprise development, Williamson is now seeking talks with Vaughan, who remains the club’s majority shareholder and owner.

The City manager said: “I’m seriously worried. The only reason I’m here is because we’ve got good people at the club. I was impressed with what the chairman had to say to me in the summer and now, four or fives months down the road, it looks as if it is all going to come apart at the seams. “It shouldn’t be like that because I feel we have got something to build on, yet nobody seems to recognise that fact.”

Williamson is eager to learn what the full implications of Vaughan’s decision will be.

He added: “I’ll be having a conversation with him very shortly and there are two questions I’m going to ask him. Do we build and move forward, or do we dismantle and stabilise?

“I’d hate to think he wants to dismantle, but it could be that’s what we’ve got to do and that would mean selling our best players and bringing the kids through and players from other clubs. If that’s the case, I can totally understand where the chairman’s coming from because we’re not getting enough fans through the gates to sustain what we’re trying to achieve. The fans that do come appreciate what Stephen Vaughan has done for this club.”

Williamson thinks Vaughan’s decision to stand down was made because he has become disillusioned with life at the Deva Stadium. Home attendances have been disappointingly low, despite Chester mounting a charge for promotion. Only 2,291 fans saw Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Peterborough – the match of the day in League Two.

Williamson said: “I can understand where the chairman’s coming from, if I’m guessing right. I just don’t think he’s been appreciated at this club over the years. The Chester fans have got to realise that there’s not many people who want to invest in football clubs. Stephen Vaughan does.

“I’ve only known him for a short period of time, but he’s the most passionate chairman I’ve ever worked with.”

Vaughan’s decision to quit was confirmed in a short statement on Chester’s official website on Saturday.

It read: “Stephen Vaughan has announced that he has resigned as chairman and director of Chester City Football Club.

“No further statements will be issued over the weekend, however there will be further news next week.”

Managing director Bob Gray and secretary Tony Allan will continue to look after the day-to-day running of the club.

A press conference planed for tomorrow (Tuesday) – which was due to announce details of possible new investment in the Blues – was cancelled on Saturday.