Text at top (next game etc)

Next Game: Rushall At Home In The League On Saturday 30th November At 3.00pm

Monday, February 06, 2006

Ex-Conference Sides Mixed Fortunes In League Two

Chester City have had a clear-out of backroom staff after a disasterous run of nine losses in ten games.

They have taken just three league points in two months, sliding down the table from a play-off spot to just nine points off the relegation places.

Assistant managers John Gannon and Dave Bell, and Physio Clive Goodyear have all been sacked with replacements expected in the next couple of days.

Barnet are one point and one place below Chester after failing to reproduce their fine form from last season. A debut striker from former Dagenham forward Tresor Kandol was enough to give them their first win in six games over Shrewsbury.

Barnet, however, are also facing problems off the field - with Barnet council obtaining a High Court injunction to prevent safety work being done on one end of the ground. The work, described by the board as vital to supporter safety, has now been delayed until at least March.

Problems with water supplies to the South end of the ground have also forced the club to move away fans to the East Terrace, and Saturday's match with Shrewsbury was delayed for 90 minutes with a power cut.

Shrewsbury are slightly better off than Chester, but only by a single point. They haven't won for five games, and have scored just twice in that run. Off the field, the club announced losses of £350,000 for last season - a figure described as being caused by their fight against relegation last season.

Carlisle seem to be the only recent departure to the Football League to have a bright future. They moved top of League Two and beat Chester 5-0 at the weekend. Former Bulls loanee Karl Hawley is the division's top scorer with 16 goals, and the club have enjoyed a few five figure gates this season.