Chester face new fight for survival.

Byline: NEIL TURNER 

CHESTER CITY owner Stephen Vaughan last night set out to reassure supporters over the chaos that the club find themselves in, after the Football Association failed to sanction their membership.

Fears have surfaced that City face the prospect of not being allowed to start the forthcoming Blue Square Premier League campaign.

The club, who came out of financial administration last month, have yet to receive ratification that the transfer of the old company to the new company has been accepted by the FA. However, Vaughan is confident that the procedural issues can be overcome.

Saturday's preseason friendly match against Marine at College Road had to be cancelled and if ratification of membership isn't received by noon today, tomorrow's game against a Liverpool XI at the Deva Stadium will also be postponed.

Vaughan said: "The matter is now in the hands of our solicitors and the administrators and we are hopeful that things will be sorted out this week.

"If ratification of our FA membership drags on, then we will have to grin and bear it and play our friendly matches behind closed doors."

City could not only lose revenue from tomorrow's game against Liverpool, but also from next week's home match against Premier League newcomers Burnley.

An FA spokesman said: "Any club that comes out of administration has to meet certain requirements. Chester have not been able to meet those requirements, so they are not in a position to play games."

If the impasse continues and Chester are forced to return to financial administration, they may have their 10-point penalty that has already been imposed, increased even further.