CHESTER have announced a new date for their League Two visit to Darlington.

The match was due to go ahead on Saturday but was postponed at 1.20pm due to a frozen pitch, following a third and final inspection by referee Rob Shoebridge.

The fixture will now be played on Tuesday, February 19 (7.30pm).

Saturday’s postponement came as a huge disappointment to Chester’s team and fans, who had made the long journey to the North East for nothing.

Fortunately for City, however, they did not lose ground in the League Two promotion race and remain sixth.

Play-off rivals Chesterfield lost 2-1 at Accrington and stay seventh, while fifth-placed Rotherham saw their match at Bradford City also fall victim to the weather.

Ian comes on board

THE Blues this week welcomed a new face into the Deva boardroom.

Wirral-based solicitor Ian Anderson, who has assisted the club with a number of legal matters recently, is looking forward to his new role as a director.

He said: “It is a pleasure to be joining the board of Chester City Football Club. These are exciting times for the club, and I like the way Stephen Vaughan does things.

“I have worked for the club in a professional capacity for a couple of years and defended the club in a number of recent cases. I will be looking after the legal interests of the club, and of course assisting it in any other way I can.”

Fans Trust Baker

PAUL Baker has been given the backing of the Chester City Supporters’ Trust in his bid to buy Stephen Vaughan’s majority shareholding in the club.

Baker, whose firm UK Sameday sponsors the Blues, has “lodged an interest” with Vaughan, who resigned as chairman and director two weeks ago.

Lifelong Chester fan Baker has met Trust officials to outline his plans for the future of the club, should any takeover be successful.

A Trust statement read: “We believe that, subject to Stephen Vaughan selling his shares, Baker represents the best hope for the club due to his passion and vision.”

Big Sam denies bid

NEWCASTLE United manager Sam Allardyce has ruled out a move for Ipswich Town’s former Chester striker Jon Walters.

The Magpies had been reportedly lining up a £1m move for Walters, 24, who joined the Tractor Boys from Chester in January.

But Allardyce said: “I had Jonathan with me at Bolton Wanderers and I’m delighted that he’s doing so well with Ipswich, but he’s not someone I’m looking to bring here.”

Walters, who moved from Wrexham to the Blues on a free transfer 18 months ago, is now rumoured to be attracting interest from Premiership clubs following a string of impressive displays for Ipswich.

With Chester being entitled to 20% of any transfer fee Ipswich receive for the player, a six-figure cheque could be on its way to the Deva if Walters leaves in the January transfer window.

Phil may be away

OUT-OF-FAVOUR City defender Phil Bolland has been training with Wrexham.

The 31-year-old centre-back played for the Dragons in a practice match against a young Everton XI at Colliers Park on Tuesday. He has started only three matches for Chester all season and has been unable to force his way into Bobby Williamson’s first-team squad on a regular basis.

Wrexham manager Brian Little said: “Phil has been told by Chester that he can train with us and it gives me an opportunity to see how he fits in with potential team-mates both on and off the pitch.”

Youngsters win

GOALS from Ryan Williams and Andy Mitchell handed Chester’s youth team a 2-0 home win over Shrewsbury on Saturday.

City’s young guns return to action with a fixture at Carlisle on Saturday, January 5.