An Open Letter to the Owners of Chester City FC

Fourteen Managers in Ten Years

The revolving door at the Deva Stadium has spun once more, ejecting manager Mick Wadsworth after just three months. He was the fourteenth manager to take charge of Chester City in the last ten years, a figure that speaks not of ambition, but of chronic instability.

Wadsworth arrived under what were described as extreme pressures and desperate circumstances, yet by all accounts remained professional throughout. His departure is seen by supporters as another knee-jerk reaction from a board that has lurched from one crisis to another.

The club has fallen silent, but the fans have not.

An Appeal for Answers

In response to the mounting chaos, a supporters' group, City Fans United, has publicly questioned the club’s ownership. Their open letter cuts through the confusion, directing its questions to the current owner, noting their uncertainty as to whether that is Stephen Vaughan Senior or Junior. They demand to know if any new manager will be afforded the financial backing and, just as importantly, the patience to address the deep-rooted problems on the pitch.

The questions go beyond the dugout. With attendances in steady decline, fans want to know what, if any, plans exist to bring supporters back to the ground and increase matchday revenue. The recent failure of a Company Voluntary Arrangement casts a long shadow over the club's finances, and the letter probes for information on what progress is being made to develop alternative streams of income. The survival of the club depends on the answers to these questions.

A Proud Club at its Lowest Ebb

The closure of the club’s Centre of Excellence has severed a vital connection to the community. With that pathway gone, relationships with local youth football and schools have become more important than ever. City Fans United asks what steps the club is taking to ensure the best local talent does not slip through the net, a concern that extends beyond the first team to the very identity of the club.

The Divas Showbar on Station Road used to be the Royal Mail Social Club. It’s a small detail, but a reminder that things change, sometimes for the worse.

The letter from the supporters is not just a list of grievances; it is an appeal for transparency on behalf of a club they feel has been “developed, nurtured and loved by the parents, grandparents and ancestors of the good folk of Chester, North Wales and West Cheshire”. On the cusp of its 125th anniversary, Chester City sits at its lowest ebb in a century.

City Fans United will hold their inaugural meeting at the Divas Showbar on the 22nd of October. All supporters are encouraged to attend.