Since Chester City were expelled from the Football Conference on Friday, there have been a number of rumours circulating about the future of football in Chester, specifically a number of misunderstandings about CFU’s work towards the reformation of the Club.

 

We understand the concern that fans and members have about the future of football in Chester, and share your desire to see football back in the City again.
 

However although the Club were thrown out of the League last Friday in accordance with football regulations, Chester City FC 2004 has until Friday 5 March to appeal against the original recommendation by the Board of the Football Conference to its member clubs to expel Chester City. This appeal is not against the vote of the Clubs taken last Friday.

Assuming there is no appeal or it is unsuccessful we will be making an application to join the football pyramid as a ‘reformed’ club, and this will be assessed by The FA. We are also continuing regular and active discussions with the Council over making an application for the lease of the Deva. As a critical part of both our application for the lease, and for a league place, we have been working closely with our advisors, Supporters Direct, to draw up a comprehensive business plan.

Although some of the process may not be as clear as fans – or we – would like, we would like to reassure everyone that despite rumours to the contrary, there is no rule stating that a reformed Chester City will have to begin at North West Counties League.

 

We are getting the best advice on all these issues from Supporters Direct, and will continue to keep members and fans alike informed of developments.

Today the member clubs of the Football Conference have voted to expel Chester City FC from the competition.

City Fans United are dismayed and saddened that this situation has been allowed to occur, however we have previously stated our belief that years of financial mismanagement meant that this decision was inevitable.

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Chester City’s largest supporters group City Fans United today issue a challenge to Palle Rasmussen, the man behind the internet based “Chester is Danish” consortium, to present his plans for the future of their football club or to admit that his scheme to purchase the debt riddled historic Club is no longer feasible.

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Buried in our links page is an excellent website, 200%, which has been providing independent and well researched articles on the unfolding Chester story for the last several months. They are essential reading for those wanting to understand more about the situation at Chester City Football Club.

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CFU had been in early discussions with a Danish group interested in investing in Chester City FC. CFU had an undertaking from the group that they would not proceed without CFU backing. We were shocked to learn on Sunday that a deal had been done by the Danish group to purchase the club without reference to CFU and Chester supporters.

CFU has always clearly stated that it would talk to any interested party with a genuine interest in saving the Club – and private talks have been conducted with more than one such party. It is the duty of CFU to examine any proposed takeover thoroughly before giving it its blessing. CFU is the custodian of the interests of the supporters. The recent history of Chester City is a litany of broken promises and unrealised ambition. We regret to say that the deal fails to satisfy CFU on the following grounds:

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Members of a Danish consortium met representatives of the CFU yesterday before they met the club. It was made clear to them that any rescue bid would need the support of the fans, the wider community, and a viable Business Plan. We were not satisfied with the very brief report we had after the meeting with the club.

In our opinion the Danish consortium also have no adequate business plan or strategy for running the club on a day to day basis. They do not have adequate finances to cover the current debt, and have no plans for community involvement.

We are saying clearly and directly to the Danish consortium: On Thursday you stated that if we did not wish you to continue with your bid, you would not proceed. We are saying that we do not wish you to proceed with your bid. We would however welcome you to be part of an exciting journey with us as we rebuild our club in our own vision. But if you proceed without us, you are proceeding against us with all that entails.

City Fans United are trying to clarify the full situation surrounding the reported sale of the club and will make a further statement in due course.

Last Thursday, the Football Conference gave Chester City Football Club a seven day stay of execution from potential expulsion from the Blue Square Premier League.

It seems likely that the Football Conference will throw Chester City FC out of the league this Thursday, 18th February. The club will therefore not be able to compete again this season and results will be expunged from the record. This is the sad culmination of years of gross mis-management of our football club. It appears that the footballing authorities have simply had enough. The current owners, despite repeated leniency from the authorities and chances to put things right, have failed to run our club in a way that satisfies even the mininum standards – let alone the highest ones that we would aspire to as supporters.

 

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Now, for something taking place across all social networking groups run by Chester City fans right now, kicking off at 7.45pm…something that was pre-planned before today’s events, but one which takes on extra significance now, as CFU needs as many members to join the fight to keep Football alive in Chester…

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The indignity of failing to fulfil last night’s fixture at Forest Green followed by the announcement that we are unable to host our local rivals Wrexham on Sunday means that Chester City Football Club has effectively ceased to be. We have been tested to the limit as supporters and our support base has been driven down to a rump through incompetence and worse.

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It was no surprise to see the lowest ever contingent of Chester City fans present for the Blue Square Premier League game against Ebbsfleet United on Saturday. Less than 400 Chester fans were present at the Deva Stadium to witness the club’s fifth successive defeat, and following on from the lowest ever turnout for a professional Chester City match in January, we now witness the lowest ever number of City fans at a home match, the boycott fans called for is clearly taking effect.

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