MICK WADSWORTH was unveiled as the new manager of Chester City yesterday.

The much-travelled 58-year-old replaces Mark Wright in the Deva Stadium hot-seat and his immediate task will be to rebuild a squad that was ripped apart following the club’s relegation out of the Football League.

Wadsworth, who has managed Carlisle United, Scarborough, Colchester United, Oldham Athletic and Huddersfield Town, will begin pre-season training tomorrow with just nine players at his disposal. But he plans to have a 20-man squad in place by the time the Blue Square Premier campaign kicks off on August 8.

City will start the season on minus 10 points as punishment for going into administration. The Yorkshireman believes, however, that a play-off place is not beyond them.

“I’m used to challenges and tough situations and this job excites me,” said former Newcastle United and Southampton assistant manager Wadsworth, who was part of the England coaching team under Bobby Robson and Graham Taylor.

“We’re already 10 points behind all the other teams in the league but we’ll get our heads around that and work very hard to overcome it.

“We’ve got a lot of recruitment to do and it’s going to be hard work, but I will not be found wanting in that respect – I’m a workaholic. We will recruit as quickly and as wisely as we can and in the most economical way that way we can.

“I want to re-establish Chester to a higher and better level and maybe one day surpass where it’s been in the past.”

Wadsworth, who had a stint as manager of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was always the club’s number one choice, according to Chester owner Stephen Vaughan.

“We’ve got someone who has experience at every level in English football,” said Vaughan. “We’re delighted to have him on board.

“It’d be silly to think we are going to win the league but we’ve got to have a dream and we’re going to chase that final play-off spot.”