COUNCIL leaders today threw their full weight behind a bid to bring football back to Chester’s Deva Stadium.
Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) leader Mike Jones opened doors for discussions about the lease of the council-owned Bumpers Lane stadium.
He told fans bidding to create a phoenix Chester City FC: “Now is the time for us to start making decisions.”
City Fans United Supporters group (CFU) members have been in talks with CWaC officials for the past few weeks as they faced up to the club’s demise in the London High Court after failing to pay a £26,125 tax bill.
But now the doors are wide open for the council to make a decision on whether the stadium can be loaned and a new club formed.
CWaC leader Mike Jones told the Leader: “We are now in a position to start making decisions and we are fully in support of serious discussions with fans and any organisations with a view to the lease of the Deva Stadium.
“We are aware of four or five groups who have shown an interest and we want to be sure that there is adequate community engagement.
“We are in fully support of plans providing there is a robust and sustainable business plan.”
The news will serve as a massive relief to fans and in particular members of CFU who are determined to do all they can to bring a football club back to Chester.
CFU spokesman Jeff Banks said: “It has been a time of mixed emotions for fans in the wake of the club’s extinction, but the level of emotion and sadness now has to be balanced by a great level of optimism for bringing football back to Chester. It can and will be done.”
Mr Banks said a “solid” business plan had been submitted to the council in relation to bringing about a phoenix club, and he said the group were in regular dialogue with the council.
Meanwhile CFU have also submitted a notice of intent to the Football Association which, if successful, would see a new Chester football club placed in the UniBond League next season.
“We are very optimistic of this and await he outcome. Meanwhile we are calling for fans to come forward and get behind our bid for a new club.”
Mr Banks also revealed CFU had been in talks with various businessmen about the prospect of support for the team, the outcome of which looked “promising”.
He added that fans are invited to show their support financially through various means including a loan note scheme which enables fans to buy a share of the club and other fundraising initiatives.
“This is not the end for football in Chester. It’s merely just the beginning,” Mr Banks said.