Deva friendly in doubt

Last updated : 18 July 2009 By Tony Scholes

Chester dropped out of the Football League along with Luton in May and then went into administration before being bought back by former chairman Stephen Vaughan under the name of Chester City Football Club 2004 Limited.

However, the FA have concerns over the new company and have not been prepared to issue the club with a licence and that means they cannot play any fixtures, and that includes pre-season friendlies. Their game today against Marine has been called off.

Vaughan said: ""As far as we're concerned, we've complied with every rule that's been thrown at us. We feel that the FA are being very unfair on it."

Yet Managing Director Rob Gray commented: "We have to adhere to certain rules and regulations from the FA transferring the membership from the old company to the new company.

"That's what we're working on as we speak. Our solicitors are in consultation with the FA to finalise all the relevant paperwork that needs to be processed. Obviously that will be reverted and hopefully sooner rather than later we can rearrange our friendlies and carry on with the football we need to play.

"All the relevant paperwork today has been sent across to the rightful people so hopefully by Monday we'll have a clearer picture of how it stands and we'll move forward accordingly."

Chester are due to play a Liverpool side next week and that is the next game to be placed in doubt, but worse is that if this matter is not resolved they will not be able to kick off the new season in the Blue Square Premiership.

The FA's Communications Manager Mark Hooper said: ""When clubs go into administration and transfer to a new owner, there are certain regulations every club has to meet to safeguard the financial integrity of the game.

"These regulations are outlined to the club and, to date, Chester City haven't met our rules. Some of the information we need has been supplied but not all of it. It is not us that's the issue."