THIS time last week new Chester City manager Mick Wadsworth was preparing for a shot at one of Europe’s top leagues, writes Paul Wheelock.

Instead, today he finds himself charged with the task of putting together a completely new squad, in just five weeks, so that the Blues are ready for their first season back in the English non-league.

Wadsworth had the opportunity to take up a coaching position with Greek side Kavala, who have been promoted into the Super League Greece.

The challenge of managing abroad held no fear for the well-travelled 58-year-old, but the thought of helping City start the climb back to the Football League held greater sway than clashes with Olympiacos and Panathinaikos.

“I had a good opportunity and I would have been starting this week,” said Wadsworth, who has managed Beira-Mar in Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo national team.

“But I’d prefer to be in the UK and I wouldn’t be at this club specifically if the job didn’t excite me.

“I’m doing it because I really want to re-establish the club’s reputation, my reputation and the reputation of the players.”

Wadsworth brings a wealth of experience to the role having managed Carlisle United, Scarborough, Colchester United, Oldham Athletic and Huddersfield Town in England and Gretna in Scotland.

The Yorkshireman, whose best success came at Carlisle and Scarborough, has also been an assistant at Norwich City, Newcastle United, Southampton and Shrewsbury Town and he was part of the England coaching set up under Bobby Robson and Graham Taylor.

Chester owner Stephen Vaughan certainly believes he has got the right man and he is hoping Wadsworth can achieve a Blue Square Premier promotion place – despite the fact the Blues will start on minus 10 points after going into administration.

“We’ve got to chase the dream,” said Wadsworth. “We just want to do as well as we possible can and if we can get to that fifth play-off spot it would be an unbelievable achievement.

“But as we stand, we’ve got nine players, five-and-a-half weeks before the first game, so we’ve got a lot of work to do. But that is the challenge that excites me.”