CHESTER City manager Jim Harvey is hoping for a thaw later this week, not only with the weather but also with the club’s purse strings, which would then see the players receive the majority of their outstanding November wages.

City’s managing director Bob Gray confirmed over the weekend that the outstanding monies still hadn’t been received by the squad, but he gave assurances that he was working towards a solution.

Harvey, whose son Steven is part of a consortium who have had preliminary discussions about taking over the beleaguered Football Conference basement club, is philosophical about the current state of affairs at City. He said: “It’s a very difficult situation at Chester.

“Our preparation for Saturday’s scheduled match at Rushden and Diamonds (eventually postponed), was poor because the boys hadn’t been in for training and most of them have been left to do training sessions by themselves.

“Unfortunately my job has been made more difficult because the loan players I had at the club have now gone back to their clubs, and that has hampered the size of the squad.

“I am now left with a lot of youngsters who are not ready, but they will nonetheless get an opportunity due to our circumstances. Most of our youngsters will now have an opportunity to demonstrate their potential, but our position is now far from ideal.”

Harvey added: “It is difficult and I am now left to just take one day at a time. There is, and has been, a lot of turmoil at the club and the future is very uncertain.

“But my job is to concentrate on the team and focus on the younger players who need my help.

“I am going to teach, educate and support my players in whichever way I can. And I will then hopefully assist them in their first steps as first team players.

“Confidence plays a big part in football, all footballers will tell you that. I have got to help instil some confidence back into the squad, but that is not something that is going to be achieved overnight.”

Chester face Kidderminster Harriers at Aggborough on Saturday.