Chester City administration history: every insolvency event since 1986

Chester City timeline

1. 27 October 1998 · Third Division · Administration

   After several winding-up orders and threatened player strikes under chairman Mark Guterman, Chester City entered administration on 27 October 1998, with Begbies Traynor appointed by the court. No points deduction applied (the Football League's automatic administration penalty did not exist until 2004-05).

   Owner at the time: Mark Guterman

   Outcome: Survived. Terry Smith bought the club out of administration in July 1999. A CVA was approved on 19 July 1999 and the administration discharged on 4 May 2000 (Companies House).

   Sources: Companies House: Chester City Football Club Limited - Insolvency (Companies House) · UK Parliament: Written evidence (Chester supporters) to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee football governance inquiry (archived)

2. 26 February 2010 · Conference Premier · Expelled · -25 points

   Relegated from League Two, Chester City entered administration in May 2009 (Companies House: 14 May; announced 17 May) and began 2009-10 in the Conference Premier on minus 25 points (10 for administration plus 15 imposed by the FA/Conference). Treated as one continuous episode: the club was expelled from the Conference on 26 February 2010 and wound up on 10 March 2010.

   Owner at the time: Stephen Vaughan

   Outcome: Phoenix club. Results expunged 8 Mar 2010; Chester City Football Club 2004 Ltd compulsorily wound up 10 Mar 2010 (Chester City Football Club Ltd followed 9 Apr 2010). Supporters' group City Fans United formed the phoenix club Chester FC.

   Sources: BBC Sport: Chester hit by 25-point penalty · BBC Sport: Chester City expelled from Football Conference · BBC Sport: Chester City wound up in High Court