Chester's Morell Maison says his players have been paid

Morell Maison is still hopeful that Chester can turn their fortunes round

Chester City insist that their players have been paid following reports of a continued threat of strike action over non-payment of wages.

City's players threatened to strike for the second time this season ahead of last Saturday's home date with Grays.

The Grays game was called off because of the snowy weather - but director of football Morell Maison insists that Chester's players still got paid.

"The players got a week's wages last week," he told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"There are moves afoot to pay a month's wages this week and another month's wages the following week which would bring them up to date.

"The plans are there and the will's there.

"The ball started to roll last week and hopefully the club can keep it continuing this week.

"Money came in last week and there is some stuff we're doing this week coming to fruition, and that should lead us nicely into next week."

Up-for-sale City still face a High Court winding-up order over an unpaid £26,025 tax bill, as well as other unspecified debts which any prospective owner would have to take on board.

Their current owner, Stephen Vaughan Jnr, one of their former players and the eldest son of former owner Stephen Vaughan Snr, is known to be keen to sell.

But Maison's more immediate problem is picking a team for Saturday's visit of Ebbsfleet knowing that the club is still under a transfer embargo and that he again has only nine senior players.

"The team virtually picks itself," added Maison. "It's the nine players we have plus the best of the academy kids.

"It's not an ideal situation and we're not going to win many games with that set-up.

"So we need to solve our problems fairly rapidly if we're going to have a chance.

"We need to pay off our football debts, which include three clubs and our players, which is somewhere around £37,000 in total. Once those debts are paid, we're allowed to bring players in."

The club's owners have come under increasing pressure from Chester supporters group City Fans United over many issues.

And the CFU have revealed that they have this week written to all City's fellow Blue Square Premier clubs apologising for the manner in which their club has conducted itself this season.

"We believe that the time is right to stress to opposition clubs and the Blue Square Premier officials that we have no faith in the current ownership," said a CFU statement.

We are deeply concerned that the club's players, many of whom are young footballers on low incomes, continue to be treated with contempt by the current ownership

City Fans United statement

"CFU want rival fans to realise that we find the position of the club totally unacceptable.

"The club was recently invited to attend a meeting with senior Football Conference officials but failed to send a suitable representative, an action which could potentially lead to the club being pushed further down the football pyramid.

"We are also deeply concerned that the club's players, many of whom are young footballers on low incomes, continue to be treated with contempt by the current ownership.

"CFU can also reveal that we have twice applied to the solicitors dealing with the sale of club for a purchase pack and are yet to receive a response.

"We have however spoken to various interested parties and all have expressed their disbelief at the sale terms quoted.

"It is obvious that despite the current ownership reducing the asking price to £1, many of the sale terms quoted, including the £500,000 funding requirement in cash, will put off any prospective future owners from considering buying Chester City."