Manager Jim Harvey resigns from Chester City

Jim Harvey is a contender for the vacancy at Kidderminster Harriers

Blue Square Premier bottom club Chester City are looking for their fourth manager in nine months following the resignation of Jim Harvey.

The Chester boss, who took over from Mick Wadsworth in October, has been linked with Kidderminster Harriers.

But his position at the Deva has looked precarious since City appointed a new director of football, Morell Maison.

And it is now understood that Maison is involved in a consortium ready to take over the troubled club.

"I have been informed that the new consortium don't see me in their future plans, so the most honourable thing I can do is agree to leave," said Harvey.

"I have enjoyed my spell at Chester. Obviously, the behind-the-scenes problems haven't helped."

Maison is reported to be behind a bid to take over from the Vaughan family as the club's majority shareholder.

And it is expected that former Sunday league manager Maison, who had a successful spell in charge of Kettering Town three seasons ago and has also managed Halesowen Town, will pick the team for Saturday's trip to Crawley.

606: DEBATE

As expected JH has left the club. Surely the final nail in the coffin

chestertom

But Maison would not be allowed to take his place in the dug-out as he is still serving a touchline ban, which lasts until the end of the season, following a dust-up with one of his players at Halesowen last season.

Harvey has been badly handicapped in his time in charge at Chester by the club's financial problems.

Disastrous attendance figures, on the back of last season's relegation, followed by administration, then manager Mark Wright's departure, and a 25-point pre-season penalty, and general antipathy among fans to the Vaughan regime, have led to Harvey working to a very small budget.

He began with an encouraging run of three straight league wins early in his reign. But he was then forced to relinquish the services of four key loan players.

And City's cash-flow problems have led to their already under-sized squad having now gone unpaid in two months.

Chester have lost seven out of their last eight games to stand still 25 points adrift at the foot of the Blue Square Premier. And, if they survive the season, they will almost certainly be playing their football in Blue Square North next season.