WHEN they thought things couldn’t get any worse, Chester City’s woes continued last night when this Sunday’s all-ticket derby clash against Wrexham was postponed because City couldn’t make an agreed advance payment to Cheshire Constabulary, who were due to police the match.

The Constabulary’s no show means that a prohibition notice was issued on the Deva Stadium by the local Trading Standards council, which made the cancellation of the match against the Welshmen inevitable.

This is the second time in a week that a City game has been postponed as a result of the club’s parlous financial state. Tuesday night’s Blue Square Premier League match at Forest Green Rovers was called off after Chester failed to make an advance payment to the coach company who were transporting the side to Gloucestershire.

The playing squad and staff haven’t been paid for three months, and the club face a winding-up petition in the High Court on March 10, the action being brought by HM Revenue and Customs.

The club’s very existence now hangs in the balance. The Football Conference are becoming increasingly irritated by City’s unprofessionalism. They stated last night that they would review the Chester position today and issue a statement about the club’s future.

In another development, the Daily Post can reveal that Welsh Premier League club The New Saints are considering an approach to the owners of the Deva Stadium, Chester City Council, with a view to a ground-share.

Saints have been refused funding from Welsh Grounds Improvement Trust to enlarge their Park Hall Stadium, and the club see the Deva as an ideal solution to their quest to bring their playing facilities in line with the requirements of the new slimline Welsh Premier next season.