It had to be.

Chester FC were handed a trip to Southport in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup this morning (Monday) in a clash that pits Blues boss Jon McCarthy against his old manager Steve Burr.

Burr, hired as Sandgrounders boss last month, was sacked by the Blues in April last year following a poor run of results and his number two at the time, McCarthy, led Chester to safety and was handed the job on a permanent basis at the end of the season.

McCarthy, who played for Burr at Northwich Victoria, was the ex-Chester managers sidekick since January 2014 and admits that coming up against such a familiar face will be awkward when the two sides face off on Saturday, October 15.

"It won’t be nice on the day and I know how much Steve likes to win," said McCarthy.

"That will be awkward. That is going to be really difficult but we are both really professional and I owe a debt to him as a player and as an assistant so there isn’t any animosity.

"There are no issues and problems and I’m pleased to see him back in the game but we both want to win and whoever loses will be disappointed. I can’t cloud over it, it won’t be nice."

Steve Burr and Jon McCarthy during their time together at Chester

And McCarthy knows the importance of a cup run to the Blues and how it can hand the club a vital financial boost and says he will be doing extra work on the preparation for the trip to Haig Avenue.

The Blues boss said: "It is vital. I have promised our board I will do twice as much preparation for the FA Cup as it can be so important financially to the club.

"I think we deserved a home draw. We’ve not had a home draw in the FA Cup since I have been here and the moment Steve goes he gets one. That doesn’t seem fair. But genuinely the FA Cup can give the fans a boost and I know how important it is to the fans and how it can impact our season."

Chester travel to North Ferriby United in the Vanarama National League tomorrow night (Tuesday, October 4, 7.45pm).