Chester City FC suspended for a week

Chester City Football Club have been suspended from the Football Conference for a week for not turning up to Tuesday's match at Forest Green.

Also Sunday's Blue Square Premier League game between Chester and Wrexham has been called off due to the ongoing off field problems at the Deva Stadium.

Speaking to SkySports Managing Director Bob Gray says:

'There still are investors out there, that are still interested in maybe taking over the club or being part of the football club in some capacity. It's not all doom and gloom it's not the be all and end all, we just have to fight hard now.'

Cheshire West and Chester Council have issued a Prohibition Notice to the club after being informed the Police will not send extra officers to the derby.

That means the Deva Stadium will not be allowed to open to fans and as a consequence the game has been postponed.

The Police say it's because they need to provide extra officers for the match and they haven't received payment for that from the Club.

A statement from Cheshire Police reads:

"The Statement of Intent agreed that the Football Club provide payment in advance for the policing requirements of all matches, including the forthcoming match between Chester and Wrexham on Sunday 14 February.

"The Statement of Intent requires payment for the additional policing services to be received 5 days prior to the football match taking place.

"That deadline has now expired and no payment has been received from the Club.

"Chester Police will therefore not be in a position to provide police officers to police within the football ground for the Chester versus Wrexham match listed for Sunday 14 February."

Because of that decision, Cheshire West and Chester Council say it would not be safe for fans to be allowed into the game.

Andrew Rees from Trading Standards said:

"Quite obviously, with all the history attached to past meetings of such great rivals, playing the match without policing inside the ground would present a unacceptable risk.

"It is considered in these circumstances that spectator safety cannot be guaranteed and that there is a serious risk of injury or harm to spectators.  

"Our first concern must be to warn the fans who have already bought tickets for this fixture, that the there will be no access to the stadium for spectators - should the game take place."

Chester City have confirmed the game will not take place in any form this Sunday.

Morell Maison, Chester's Director of Football said:

"The police not attending makes it impossible for the game to go ahead.

"I told the police at a meeting on Friday that in the event that they were not paid as they requested and policing was withdrawn, that would effectively cancel the game."