Chester are granted affiliation

After what seems the longest running saga in the history of the game, Chester City have finally been given the nod to get their season up and running.

The FA have just approved City's application following their meeting with the Football Conference.

There is still a debate over the points deduction that was made against the club by the Conference, which will still fuel debate.

The bottom line is though, that Chester City are back in action again, and for that I'm thankful - now to find a new owner that will take this club back to respectability.

The support for CCFC gathers

Ahead of tomorrow's meeting between the FA & the Football Conference, the Chester City fans are looking to highlight the club's plight in front of the national media at the Deva Stadium.

Blues fans will be wanting to show that the club deserves a licence to play football, and that the supporters will not let the club die easily.

However, the club's supporters are also adamant that they are not in favour of Stephen Vaughan obtaining the club again, but accept that the licence needs to be granted first, and then the bridge needs to be crossed to discuss future ownership of the club.

Either way, the FA & Conference will hopefully thrash out a deal for crisis club Chester at their meeting tomorrow.

Fight for survival continues

Chester City's nightmare season continues, without a ball even being kicked, as today the FA & Conference ordered the Blues to cancel tomorrow's game at home to Gateshead, which would have been City's first home game of the new season.

Fans are now preparing to raise awareness prior to the Conference's meeting with the FA, which will take place on Thursday at Wembley Stadium.

Marches are being planned from the Town Hall to the Ground, with demonstrations of support for City outside the ground during what would have been the build up to kick off tomorrow night.

Chester City Exiles are also heading to Wembley Stadium on Thursday morning to show the FA & Conference that the club is not prepared to die.

Good luck to all those travelling to the various locations.

A long statement was produced tonight which is listed here - and you can see just how amateurish the official website looks thanks to the lack of paragraphing.

It is clear to see in this statement that Stephen Vaughan is blowing his own trumpet, and is claiming a number of things - thanks to Stephen Vaughan - talk about an ego.

Now Conference clubs vote on Chester future

So, Saturday's game at Grays was called off, and we will find out tomorrow if the Tuesday home game against Gateshead will go the same way.

News has come out today that City's Blue Square Premier League rivals have been asked to vote on whether to allow Chester into the Premier League this season.

The early indications look positive for City, with the majority appearing to vote "Yes" to keeping us in, but it needs to be a unanimous vote, which I think is a disgrace, so basically if one club from the 23 holds a grudge against the Blues, they could basically make our club extinct. Shocking.

City will hope that all clubs will think about the potential that is extra gate money from the visit of Chester fans, who have travelled away in numbers, and there may be extra this year, from the fans who refuse to put anymore money into the pockets of Stephen Vaughan at the Deva Stadium.

All Chester fans will no doubt be stocking up on the paracetamols again this week, as another stressful time is upon us once again.

At this point, I think it's worthy to mention the Wrexham fans, who have made known their support for Chester City fans and the bid to keep the club alive. We may not like each other, but there is a definite respect for each other, who have both experienced mighty problems in keeping their clubs from the clutches of evil Chairman or owners.

Thank you for your support, and long may the derby games continue.

It's all gone horribly wrong again

The news has broken this evening that Chester City's match at Grays Athletic has been called off by the Conference, meaning the Blues future is once again in chaotic uncertainty.

Never has a situation occured such as this, and it's all basically down to the FA who claimed they are to review the Conference's initial decision to allow the club to start the season, as a top priority. As yet the 25 point deduction given to the club has not been validated by the FA.

The Blues are due to face Gateshead at the Deva on Tuesday night, but now that game is in doubt following tomorrow's cancellation.

How much more misery can my club go through before it dies?

City status confirmed

Chester City have received confirmation that they will start the new season at Grays Athletic.

The Football Conference have stated that to be fair to their members they had to releas an interim statement confirming that City would receive a 25 point deduction, this including the original 10 points deduction for going into Administartion.

The news will come as a relief to us Chester fans, but the fact still remains that the man that got us into this mess is still at the helm.

Looks like a hefty Points deduction

Well judging from today's Daily Post, it appears that Chester City may still be in business today, but with a further 15 points deduction on top of the 10 points already deducted for the club going into administration.

Chester were reportedly close to accepting the penalty which means we can start the season, however, the FA are still believed to unhappy and that we have not met their criteria so maybe they have showed a bit of leniency towards the supporters of Chester City here.

More to follow...

Time is running out

As mentioned on my last post here, Chester City's battle to avoid closure is not looking good right now, with the FA still not granting the licence to the club to be affiliated to them, and to enable them to take part in a League next season.

Stephen Vaughan, we believe is currently in Manchester discussing matters with the FA, and if he doesn't satisfy their demands, then life for Chester City Football Club will come to an end.

I feel physically sick at this, and the possibility that I will no longer have the opportunity to watch my team in action again.

More hours of worry ahead!

A day long meeting between the FA & Football Conference has failed to see Chester City awarded with a licence to play football.

Instead the Blues have been made to sweat a further 48 hours whilst a proposal on the club's finance plan is viewed by the footballing authorities.

It remains unclear then, if Chester City will travel to Grays Athletic on Saturday for the Blue Square Premier League opener.

It's everything crossed time again as this crisis lurches from one day to the next without resolution, one thing is for certain, we are now in the last chance saloon.

Tomorrow is the big day!

Tomorrow sees the Football Conference decide on Chester City's fate - along with the FA.

Stephen Vaughan has claimed that the documents needed by the FA for them to grant the Blues a licence to play football, have been sent in, and I truly hope they have, otherwise Chester City's future will certainly be non existent if they are not with the FA.

If the FA confirm receipt, and grant the club the licence, then it's over to the Conference to decide if the Blues will take part in the Blue Square Premier League next Saturday.

The Conference will also decide if any further penalty will be placed upon Chester City, following the return to Administration, after the initial CVA was overturned in Court last week.

The clock is ticking...

So, we are now less than 8 days to the start of the season, and we still don't know if Chester City will begin next season in the Blue Square Premier League, or even start the season anywhere at all, as the Football Association have still not granted the licence that Chester are so longing for.

Tomorrow, the Blues face Drolysden, a match that has only got the go ahead following negotiations with the FA, and mostly based on the fact that the fixture is a charity match staged in memory of Neil 'Tony' Downes, who was killed in action in Afghanistan whilst serving in the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.

The match at Droylsden, could very well be the last time we see Chester City FC in action, but hopefully this will not be the case.

The fans will be hoping that the club get the rubber stamp from both the FA and the Football Conference by Monday.

If the green light is given by both, then the club can prepare for that first game at Grays a week tomorrow.

CVA Revoked

Chester City's existence is now truly in danger of being lost asthe Judge in the Refresh Recovery v HMRC match up in Court, voted in favour of the tax man, meaning that the CVA has now been revoked.

So, a number of possibilities beckons for Chester City FC as it heads back into Administration:

CCFC could fall foul of the Appendix E ruling set by the Conference, which means that any club who enters Administration prior to the season start will be demoted 2 leagues, meaning Chester City would start in the Unibond League, and more than likely with a further points deduction.

CCFC could be liquidated as the HMRC may choose to wind up the club if no CVA can be arranged. This would mean a new Chester City would have to be formed.

CCFC could still get a CVA in place in time for next week, but it would mean agreement with the HMRC, which right now looks unlikely.

Whatever the case the future now looks very bleak for my club.

Stephen Vaughan - you are a disgrace.

Court date for the Administrators

So, today is the expected Court case between the Administrators, Refresh Recovery, and the taxman, or to be more exact HMRC.

The outcome of the case today will go a long way to deciding Chester City's future as a football club.

If the outcome is not a positive one for the Administrators then the club is in severe danger of losing it's place in the Blue Square Premier League, without a ball having been kicked.

If the result is a positive one then it's a small step to securing a licence to play football from the FA.

Time will tell.

3 days on, and still not sorted...

That's right, we have now moved on three days since we were told by the club that this paperwork issue would be sorted, and guess what - it isn't.

With just 16 days to go until the Blue Square Premier league is due to start, we still don't know if Chester City will be part of the set up, or even be able to field a line up of players on August 8th.

Right now, it doesn't look good with the club claiming they have done everything possible, but the FA standing firm on the stance that the club have not fulfilled their requirements regarding the set up of Chester City FC 2004 Limited - the group who bought the club from Administration, fronted by the Vaughan family.

What have we done to deserve all this crap hey? Ever since 1989 when the club lost Sealand Road, and had to move to Macclesfield - who thankfully agreed to allow the Blues to use the Moss Rose ground - for 2 years, it's just gone from bad to worse.

I just hope that this is sorted out sooner rather than later, otherwise the club I've supported for over 28 years looks to be heading for extinction.