CHESTER CITY were wound up in a High Court hearing in London yesterday.

However, a fans’ group have vowed to resurrect the club that has now been relinquished by Liverpool businessman Steven Vaughan.

Chester owed HM Revenue and Customs £26,125 in unpaid taxes. The winding-up order brings to an end 125 years of history for Chester, who were expelled from the Football Conference last month after a breach of five Conference rules.

They were rock bottom of the Blue Square Premier League after being docked 25 points for slipping into administration.

Supporters group, City Fans United, had protested against how the club was being run and have submitted an application to the Football Association to reform a new 'phoenix club' in a lower league.

A CFU statement read: “Today, 125 years of history was ended at the High Court.

“This was a sad culmination in a period of turbulence that has seen the club slip out of the Football League for a second time, fail to pay its employees, and failing to fulfil fixtures in the Football Conference, resulting in an embarrassing expulsion from their competition.

“The decision to liquidate the club now allows a new era of football in Chester to commence, an era in which we feel will be a major boost to the community of Chester, and an era that all supporters can be proud of as it is they who will form the life of the reformed club.”

City Fans United will now work closely with Supporters Direct and Cheshire West & Chester Council to help guide them through the process of reformation, possibly in a lower league, following their expulsion from the Conference..

The group are encouraging anyone who might be interested in joining them to sign up via their website, www.cityfansunited.com

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