Chester's FA Trophy tie with Fleetwood moved to Friday

Chester City have been forced to bring forward this weekend's FA Trophy tie with Fleetwood on police advice.

The first round clash at the Deva Stadium was scheduled for Saturday but has been brought forward to Friday night (11 December, 1945 GMT).

Cheshire Constabulary have requested that the tie is switched on grounds of safety, following the abandonment of the Eastbourne Borough game last month.

City fans invaded the pitch to protest at the way the club was being run.

Chester are still to be dealt with by the football authorities on this matter, which is expected to be raised at the Conference's board meeting in London next Monday (14 December).

They have since staged another game, against Luton Town last Saturday when they attracted their biggest crowd of the season (1,352) to the Deva.

But, following consultation with the Football Association, the police are understood to want to be in charge of policing this Saturday's game themselves - rather than Chester's stewards - and have switched the game as a precaution.

Fleetwood Town chief executive Steve Curwood said: "The local police have insisted that the game be moved to the Friday night.

"Due to intelligence they have received, and their safety concerns, they have decided to police the match.

If we did refuse to play on Friday, we would be kicked out of the competition, which is obviously not an option

Fleetwood chief executive Steve Curwood

"As Wrexham are also at home this Saturday, they said insufficient resources prevented both games going ahead on the same day.

"I understand Wrexham and Chester share stewards and playing at the same time would place a strain on those resources as well.

"Cheshire Constabulary's concerns centred mainly on our fixture and thus we were asked if we would consider moving the game.

"We flatly refused to play on any other day, and even offered to switch the tie.

"The FA were happy to consider switching to Highbury but Chester refused to give up home advantage.

"The police were forced to correspond directly with the FA, who have this morning informed us that they have little option but to follow the police request.

"As a club, we are very annoyed at this major inconvenience to our supporters.

"This will cost the club financially as we anticipate a lower crowd than usual and, as such, our share in gate receipts will be affected.

"Refusing to play a game is simply not how we operate, but if we did refuse to play on Friday we would be kicked out of the competition, which is obviously not an option."