CHESTER FC have been named the best non-league team in the country, beating the likes of Conference Premier champions Mansfield Town and FA Trophy winners Wrexham.

But it remains to be seen how members of the side that blazed their way to the Conference North title will still be at the club this time next week.

Chester’s record-breaking 2012-13 campaign was yesterday recognised at the Non-League Paper’s National Game Awards at Craven Cottage, where they were named Team of the Year.

Blues boss Neil Young was at the home of Fulham FC to pick up the award.

He said: “This is not just for the management team or the players – who have been exceptional – but for the whole football club.

“It’s for the volunteers, the supporters – everybody involved at Chester FC – and it is great reward for what we’ve achieved these three years.”

Upon his return to work Young will continue the painful process of telling his seven remaining out-of-contract players whether or not they will be offered new deals.

Dom Collins and Iain Howard have already been released while The Chronicle can reveal that last season’s joint top scorer Nathan Jarman has joined Dave Hankin on the transfer list.

The Scunthorpe-based striker will command a four-figure fee and is being chased by a host of clubs closer to his home.

“I’ve had a good chat with Nathan,” said Young, who has just 12 players left on his books excluding Jarman and Hankin. “His commitment has been fantastic but I just got the feeling toward the end of the season that the travelling was starting to get to him a little bit.

“So we had a good conversation and while he never asked for a move, when we got down to it that proved to be the case.

“For the first time we are governed by a transfer window so I can’t have a player coming to me in a month’s time or six weeks saying, ‘listen gaffer, I can’t commit’.

“That’s why I’ve asked all the players to give me an answer now to enable me to make the best decisions for the football club.

“Once their money is allocated to them I can’t go looking for someone else but if I know there is a strong possibility there is someone going out then I can start wheeling and dealing to get someone in.”

Young – who is working on a number of deals – will release his retained list next week.

Collins announced his departure on Twitter after being told he can go by his manager.

“Dom has got a great career ahead of him,” said Young, who spoke to Collins earlier than anticipated after the young defender informed him he would be unable to attend the club’s awards evening on Saturday.

“But to gain the experience he needs he’s going to have to play in the Conference or possibly Football League longer- term. He needs to be playing football and at a club like Chester I can’t afford to blood players.”

Wes Baynes, Scott Brown, John Danby, Martin Fearon, captain George Horan, Matty McGinn and Marc Williams are the other members of Young’s squad out of contract.

Young said: “We’ve made lots of changes over the years and it’s looking like it’s going to happen again.”