City Fans United, the fans group for supporters of Chester City FC, have pledged to rebuild should the club be forced out of existence due to ongoing financial problems. They have the support of Christine Russell MP who has raised the plight of Chester City FC directly with the Sports Minister, Gerry Sutcliffe.

With the club facing possible expulsion from the Conference on 30th November and with further signs that the financial situation at the club is dire, the fans have set wheels in motion to rebuild a new Chester Football Club should the current set-up become extinct.

With further information emerging that the players have not been paid for a second month and that the Harry Mcnally Terrace has been closed due to stewards being required for other games based in the North West on Saturday, fans are wondering how long the club can continue to lurch from crisis to calamity.

A collective statement from City Fans United states: “While we hope for the best, we must also plan for the worst. All fans of Chester City want the club to survive, but if it does not then we will build a new club in Chester and continue to play football at the highest level possible.”

Commenting on how a new club could be formed, the CFU statement added: “Should the club not survive, we will be issuing an urgent rallying cry to our members to support the creation of a phoenix club. To do this we will need funds, a ground to play in and a licence from the FA to play football. We will seek to raise funds from our members by the issue of loan notes, whereby each purchaser would have a say in how the funds are invested, and would also ask potential partners from the business community to get in touch. We have already held informal discussions with Cheshire West and Chester council regarding the use of the ground and will be lobbying the FA in conjunction with Supporters Direct to allow us to enter at the highest possible place in the football pyramid.”

High-level support for the continuation of top-level football in Chester has been provided as Christine Russell MP has raised the issue directly with the Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe. Christine Russell has also offered to facilitate a meeting between City Fans United and the FA.

The statement from City Fans United continues: “We welcome all the support that CWAC, Christine Russell, Supporters Direct and the Sports Minister can bring. We hope and pray that the club continues but feel forced to plan for the worst – our club is just too important to lose.”