Vics rival Chester for signature of Vauxhall’s Taylor

May 17 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

CHESTER CITY face competition in their quest to sign the Vauxhall Motors’ striker Paul Taylor, when it emerged last night that Blue Square Premier League club Northwich Victoria have also tabled a bid for the 22-year-old forward.

City made a £30,000 bid for Taylor on Wednesday and yesterday there was dialogue between representatives of Chester and the Rivacre Park outfit.

Last night City owner Stephen Vaughan said: “We will not be drawn into an auction for the player.

“We have made what we consider to be an extremely fair offer for Paul Taylor and that offer is full and final.

“The offer is what the club can afford and quite frankly it is a case of take it or leave it. We would like Paul to join us, but if he doesn’t we have a couple of other strikers we are looking at and if necessary we will move on to other options.”

Taylor, who is a former Manchester City trainee, and enjoyed an exceptional season at Rivacre Park, has 12 months of his contract with Vauxhall Motors remaining.

One of the other strikers City have been linked with is Welsh Premier club Bangor City’s leading scorer Ashley Stott.

Stott, who was a member of the Bangor side who won the Welsh Cup earlier this month, started his career with Preston North End before moving on to Farrar Road via a stint at Altrincham.

The Football League have announced that the 2008-09 fixture schedule will be revealed on Monday June 16. The new season will start on Saturday August 9.

Meanwhile, Northwich Victoria manager Dino Maamria has begun re-building for the 2008-9 campaign by making four early signings.

Coming to the Marston’s Arena are two players from relegated Stafford Rangers in former Crewe Alexandra midfielder Chris Flynn and full-back Richie Sutton. Arriving from Southport is one-time Liverpool youth left-winger Paul Barrett, while defender Mark Roberts, who spent the last two months of the season on loan from Accrington Stanley helping Vics’ successful fight from relegation, comes on a free transfer.

Maamria said: “I’ve had my eye on Flynn, Sutton and Barratt for some time, while Roberts was happy to come back to us on a two-year contract from Accrington.”

First player to leave Northwich is England non-league international midfielder Michael Carr, who has moved to League Two club Morecambe on a free transfer after his contract ended. Released are strikers Keith Barker, Jake Speight and Cayne Hanley, midfielders Josh Wilson, Luke Horrocks and defender Michael Bowler. Two more of last season’s squad members Michael Byrne and Nat Kerr have not been offered terms, but may stay.

Retained on contract are last season’s top scorer Lee Steele, Michael Welch, Cortez Belle, Jonny Allan, Scott Tynan, Ryan Brown and Joel Byrom.