CHESHIRE West and Chester Council is ready to play ball with parties interested in maintaining football at the Deva Stadium after they regained control of the ground.

The keys to Deva have been handed over to the authority’s property management service by administrators acting on behalf of the now defunct Chester City FC.

Council leader Mike Jones said: “I’m delighted that this has taken place so quickly because it will now allow meaningful discussions obviously not possible under different circumstances.

“We are prepared to talk to anyone seriously interested in maintaining a football team and with a good business case to support their aspirations.”

City Fans United has submitted its business plan to the council who are keen to see a club installed at the Deva who will place the Blues at the heart of the community once more.

The council has held talks with representatives of another phoenix club, believed to be AFC Telford United, in order to understand the mechanics behind reforming the former Chester City FC or starting again from scratch. It is anticipated that discussions along the same lines will now take place with the Football Association.