CHESTER have finally found a date for their rearranged derby with Wrexham - but their cross-border rivals are far from happy about it.

The Blues will take on the Dragons at the Saunders Honda Stadium on Wednesday, April 12 - a decision reached following a meeting between the local Safety Advisory Group and the Football League on Monday.

The eagerly-awaited fixture, which was rescheduled after a frozen pitch meant it had to be postponed on December 28 last year, will kick-off at 7.30pm.

With the new date falling in the week before the busy Easter programme, Chester's thin squad could be tested to the limit.

Keith Curle's side must play four games in 10 days, starting with a trip to Oxford on Saturday, April 8.

Wrexham's fixture schedule is almost identical, with the only exception being that they play on Sunday, April 9 - a home derby against Shrewsbury - rather than on the 8th.

The Dragons had wanted the Chester fixture to be played on Tuesday, April 4, but were told by the Safety Advisory Group that it was too close to the Racecourse Ground meeting between the sides, which comes on Sunday, March 26.

Wrexham secretary Geraint Parry said: 'We are not happy with the new date at all. It will put an increased pressure on our squad, which is already stretched because we can only have 20 players.

'Easter is an important, busy period as it is, and this will make it even more difficult.'

Chester had been keen to play the Dragons on Tuesday, March 7 but, despite reports to the contrary elsewhere, the date was never officially confirmed by the Football League.

The saga of the Wrexham derby began last November when the kick-off time for December's original match was changed from 7.45pm to noon due to fears over the possibility of clashes between rival fans.

That enraged supporters on both sides of the border as the day was not a national holiday, meaning many were forced to miss the game, mostly through work commitments .

Those with tickets for the original fixture are reminded that they are still valid for the new date.