The second half of 2009 was just as bad – if not worse – than the first for Chester City. With the Blues facing up to life in the Conference and crippled by a huge points deduction, doubts would soon arise over the very future of the club. In the second part of his review of 2009, DAVID TRIGGS looks back at July to December.

JULY

“We’ve got to chase the dream!”

– Mick Wadsworth, the shock choice to replace recently-departed boss Mark Wright, was full of optimism when he landed in the Deva hotseat.

“This is going to be a major signing for us and he will be a huge crowd favourite.”

– it was starting to look up for the Blues when Wadsworth signed Uruguayan ace Fabian Yantorno and instantly tipped him for the top. Unfortunately, injury problems meant the 26-year-old was sent back home after playing just one behind-closed-doors game.

“This feels seriously worrying, so much so that supporters are beginning to fear whether we will be playing football again.”

– bad news was never far around the corner for the Blues... By the end of July they found themselves engulfed in a major crisis when the FA refused to grant them affiliation because they were unhappy with the way the club exited administration. It meant City were unable to play matches and Sue Choularton, of the Chester City Exiles, was speaking on behalf of all Blues fans when she expressed her fears for the future.

AUGUST

“How has it come to this? By 6pm we may not have a club. This should have been sorted out months ago.”

– concerned fan Kevin Wilding spoke out as the affiliation row with the FA went from bad to worse. Two days before Chester were due to start the season at Grays, it still had not been resolved – so supporters gathered at the Town Hall to raise awareness of the club’s plight.

“It would be a tragedy if this club were to fold.”

– border rivalries were put aside as Wrexham FC’s Supporters’ Trust offered their support to the Blues.

“It’s a weight off our shoulders. Thankfully everyone seems to have seen common sense and come out with the right conclusion.”

– club owner Stephen Vaughan finally negotiated an end to the stand-off with the FA – but the Blues were made to start the season with a debilitating 25-point deduction. In another blow, the club’s Centre of Excellence was closed due to a lack of funding.

SEPTEMBER

“Once we’ve got a settled side, we’ll have a chance. We’ve got a 70-point target and I think we can achieve it.”

–skipper Tim Ryan refused to be downbeat despite Chester recording just one win in their first eight matches.

“I find it hard to understand what has happened since Saturday and it hasn’t helped us.”

– Wadsworth was dismayed to see Stephen Vaughan and younger brother James jeered by fans during a 2-0 home win over Histon. Within days, the pair had left the club – leaving the Chester boss with even more selection headaches.

OCTOBER

“I tried my best and I’m proud of what I did in difficult circumstances.”

– another one bites the dust... Wadsworth – sacked after an unlucky 13 matches in charge – departed the Deva with his head held high.

“The club is not for sale. The club is going to move on and try and get up the division.”

– the message from Vaughan could not have been more emphatic when The Chronicle’s Paul Wheelock tracked him down for a lengthy question-and-answer session at a Wirral pub.

“We’re going to have to put in some tremendous performances and get some excellent results to avoid relegation. But that’s the job and I’m going to get on with it.”

– Jim Harvey, Chester’s 11th manager in eight years, knew the size of the challenge facing him at the Deva.

“Where is the gain amid such relentless pain?”

– Blues fan and BBC1 Formula One commentator Jonathan Legard led the calls for Vaughan to go days after Chester were threatened with expulsion from the Conference. League officials were forced to act when the club failed to pay certain debts. The payment deadline was missed, but extended into November.

NOVEMBER

“Just to see that 25 points wiped off will be a boost.”

– Harvey eyed that ‘magical’ zero-point mark as Chester recorded back-to-back wins for the first time in 99 games.

“I’ve watched this club since 1946 and I’m finding it harder to swallow than it was in the Terry Smith days.”

- back to the doom and gloom... Supporters’ club stalwart Barrie Hipkiss was in sombre mood as he reflected on another troubled month for the Blues. Conference officials put the deadline for City to pay their debts back a fortnight, while in a separate development Vaughan was banned from acting as a company director for 11 years for his part in an alleged VAT fraud.

“We understand their frustrations and why the demonstration has taken place but, next week, give them a slap on the wrist and don’t do it again.”

– Blues general manager Bob Gray refused to come down too hard on the fans who caused the game against Eastbourne to be abandoned when they invaded the pitch to protest about the Vaughan family’s ownership of the club.

DECEMBER

“Write off the debt and go”

– the headline on The Chronicle’s back page story said it all as the pressure mounted on Stephen Vaughan.

“It feels like a payback. It’s something all ex-players should do.”

– Blues hero Iain Jenkins was one of the star names to grace a Legends Night staged by supporters group City Fans United It was a memorable evening – a rare highlight for Chester fans at the end of a dismal year.

“This is not the last crisis we will face this season...”

– the threat of being wound-up was staved off, thanks to a last-minute loan from Stephen Vaughan Snr, but the year ended with a stark warning from City’s beleaguered managing director Bob Gray. And with unpaid players considering strike action, there was little good news on the horizon going into 2010.