CHESTER'S summer signing spree has continued with the unveiling of central defender Sean Hessey.

The 25-year-old Merseysider, pictured far right, who has been at Huddersfield, Leeds United, Wigan and Kilmarnock, where he played at the highest level of Scottish football, finished last season on loan at Blackpool.

But he wasn't interested in going to Bloomfield Road permanently, despite impressing the Seasiders who gave him seven first-team appearances after a spell in the reserves.

He had been unable to command a regular place in the first team at Kilmarnock and his appearances were restricted to seven last season following a knee operation, scoring one goal.

And next in could be midfielder Kevin Ellison, 25, who had a brief taste of life at the top following a £50,000 move from Altrincham to Leicester City where he failed to make a league start.

He joined Stockport in 2001-2 and made 33 appearances, scoring 15 goals before joining Lincoln City on loan, making 13 appearances.

The arrival of Hessey takes manager Mark Wright's close-season signings total to eight. The others are goalkeeper Chris MacKenzie (Telford), defenders Stephen Vaughan (Liverpool) and Richard Hope (York), midfielders Stewart Drummond (Morecambe), Andy Watson (Doncaster) and Michael Branch (Bradford City) and striker Cortez Belle (Merthyr Tydfil).

City have still not re-signed central defender Scott Guyett, who has attracted the attention of Yeovil, while having trials is ex-Yeovil midfielder Jamie Gosling. He caught Wright's eye when he played against Chester while on loan to Aldershot last season.

Also joining the players in pre-season training, which started on Monday, is Welshman Stuart Roberts, the former Wycombe Wanderers and Swansea City winger.

Said Wright: 'Gosling is a good runner and I like players who are fit and mobile like him. Roberts is very quick and we are having a good look at both of them.'

City have released midfielder Jamie Heard and striker Ian Foster who spent part of last season on loan at Kidderminster Harriers.

Added Wright: 'We have thought hard about Jamie and we came to the conclusion he wasn't really ready for the step up the Football League.

'We have had other irons in the fire, so we decided to let him go, but we would like to thank him for what he did for us last season and wish him well.'

Chester have agreed to switch their game at Cheltenham from Saturday, October 9 to Friday, October 8 to avoid a clash with England's televised match against Wales. The move has to be approved by the Football League.

The game at Northampton is likely to be brought forward from Saturday, November 20 to Friday, November 19.

Chester have ended their agreement with Liverpool to play the Anfield club's reserve team games at the Deva Stadium where Pontins Holiday League Division One West games will be played next season.

The deadline for discounted season tickets has now passed. City have sold more than 700 so far.