If you think Portsmouth have got problems, spare a thought for poor Chester

By David Anderson

Published 08:00 03/03/10

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If John Portsmouth Play Up Pompey Westwood - or whatever that loony is called - and Pompey's other fans feel hard done by, they should be thankful they don't follow Chester City.

Compared to Portsmouth, poor old Chester really are a club in crisis.

After taking knock after knock since being relegated from the Football League last season, between administration and a 25-point deduction, the final blow was delivered on Friday when they were expelled from the Football Conference.

The club, which gave us Ian Rush and which is seven years older than Liverpool, could now he forced out of business and they face a winding-up order on March 10 over an unpaid tax bill of £26,125.

Chester's problems would be laughable if they weren't so serious and the players haven't been paid since October.

They finally had enough and stopped travelling to away games, claiming they couldn't afford the petrol money.

Former chairman Stephen Vaughan, whose family are trying to sell the debt-ridden club for £1, became the first person to fail the FA's 'fit and proper person' test, which is some achievement when you consider some of the rogues who have owned clubs.

Former boss Jimmy Harvey tried to bring some stability, but left soon after ex-Sunday League manager Morell Maison was appointed director of football.

With Chester more than £200,000 in the red, the only hope is that someone will buy the club before it goes bust.

If not, then another little piece of our rich football history will die with Chester.

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