LIFELONG Chester City fan, Barrie Hipkiss last night reacted to the alarming reports over the weekend that the Deva Stadium outfit may be forced to fold if a massive cash injection is not forthcoming.
City’s managing director Bob Gray stated that he projected a financial shortfall of over £600,000 this season.
Hipkiss, who is also chairman of the Chester City Official Supporters’ Association, said: “It is sad to hear this sort of news, things have got to change quickly, because the club is in danger of imploding. I am concerned that the club may not be able to complete its fixtures, which would be a tragedy.
“I am at a loss to understand how the club can lose this sort of money over a season, but I do know that the commercial side of the club is a joke.”
The veteran City fan, who also works tirelessly behind the scenes at the Deva Stadium, added: “There have been so many poor decisions, for example the closure of the executive lounge this season, which has lost a lot of revenue, as well as alienating many potential sponsors, the list is endless.
“I have been watching Chester since 1946, it’s a great little club, but if they are not careful it will fold, which would be a tragedy.”
Meanwhile Gray responded to reports that neighbours, Wrexham, were still waiting for the monies accrued from the sale of City’s allocation of derby match tickets.
The game was played at the Racecourse 10 days ago and it was reported that normal practice within the Conference is for the visiting club to hand over monies from ticket sales on the day of the match.
Gray said: “We have just been relegated from the Football League and we were not aware of the Conference rules.
“We are still waiting for a number of cheques to clear but the matter will be sorted in the next day or so.”
To add to Chester’s fiscal woes, it is understood that the £30,000 handout to all Conference clubs following the recent gift from the Premier League, has been withheld by the League, the cash will be utilised to satisfy certain existing “football creditors”.
