High-flying Shrewsbury Town and struggling Chester FC are the focus of the latest Lower League Show.
First, Gareth Roberts speaks to Glyn Price from The Blue & Amber Fanzine about Shrewsbury’s unexpected push for promotion in League One.
There’s also an update on the club’s move to be the first in England with a newly-installed safe standing section.
Then Gareth is joined by Jeff Banks, a director at Chester FC. The club has recently faced some financial difficulties and last week hosted a celebrity fundraiser match featuring Ian Rush and Michael Owen among others.
Is the club now safe financially? And can it survive a relegation fight at the foot of the National League?
Good stuff Gareth. More than made amends for Talking Reds, haha. Only Joking. Enjoyed the show though.
the reason for the problem was not anything underhand as was stated in the show. basically, they tried to sign better players which involves contracts etc and the fans running the club hadn’t done the maths properly. makes a mockery of the supporters who say just go out and sign x. it’s not as simple as that.
so, now they have a few new players and others have been let go. they’ve just signed dom vose who is well known in the lower leagues. he’s playing for free till the end of the season. he just wants expenses. pretty rare in the football world.
another player had a clause that if he plays a certain amount of games the club have to renew his contract for another year. that meant chester had to drop him because the club couldn’t let him reach it. he’s now agreed to scrap the clause so he can play to the end of the season and help them stay up.
finally, it was mentioned on the show we have a few local lads. one is an 18 year old and he got man of the match last night. i’ve known him since he was very young. i know his mum well. we were in the same school class from primary. the other lad gary roberts is regarded as a nutter but like in a gazza kind of way. he had huge potential but every club he’s been at has released him citing off the field issues. chester is his 12th club. so, he’s far too good for chester but was signed for a month to help them stay up. the community trust is paying his wages. on his debut a month ago he came on in the 71st minute and got sent off in the 80th. i heard it wasn’t justified but it meant he sat out most of his month. he’s started playing well though now and the community trust and chester exiles are paying his wages for another month. it’s all hands to the deck but there’s a real buzz about the place. i just hope they can stay up.
saying all that, i only go a few times a season so i’m a hypocrite.