Chester chasing double from Doncaster.

By Chris Thompson
March 30 2005

Chester chairman Steven Vaughan has admitted that Chester expect to make a summer swoop for Gregg Blundell. His Doncaster team mate, John Doolan has also been linked with a move to the club.

The sooner Chester reach 50 points, the sooner the chairman and the gaffer can begin to look ahead to the summer, as they seek to boost the squad for a another go at league football come season 2005/06.
The squad requires a massive injection of new talent and experience to improve on what has been an unforeseen disappointment in Chester’s return to league football, 4 years after Terry Smith led them to the conference. By the club’s present financial state, it may be that chairman Stephen Vaughan will have to did deep into his own pockets, and as players come in, it can probably be expected that some may leave.
It is already expected in the summer that several players will exit the Deva, unless Ian Rush chooses to retain them for next season. Ashley Sestanovich (contract), Robbie Foy (loan), Andy Nicholls (loan), Carl Regan (loan), Michael Brown (loan), possibly Kevin Rapley (not needed), and maybe even long-serving ‘Keeper Wayne Brown (pushed for place/interest from Stevenage) may be on their way out.
That would leave the club with just 18 professionally contracted players, of whom many have failed to find anything like top form. In addition to that, 3 of those 18 are young reserves trying to break into the first team, and three more, Cortez Belle, Andy Watson and Andy Harris have spent most of the season wondering whether their future lies in Chester, after being shipped out on loan or running out for the reserves all season long.

One name that Steven Vaughan highlighted yesterday was Gregg Blundell. His name comes about for a second time in a week, following a deadline day enquiry pricing the Doncaster Rovers forward at 100k. However the price was enough to put the chairman off…or as it proved, just for the time being.
Speaking to the Daily Post, Vaughan was feeling optimistic about obtaining him come the summer.
"We will make a renewed effort for Gregg when the season has finished, he is the sort of player who will enhance our squad. When we have gained the extra three or four points we need to guarantee our continued membership in League Two, we will start to target the players we need in our squad next season,"
Gregg Blundell bagged 18 goals in Doncaster Rovers successful League 2 campaign last season, but has found the net just 9 times this season from 36 appearances in the side.

It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but another name has emerged from Doncaster to be linked with Chester. According to the Evening Leader, ex-Barnet midfielder John Doolan may join Blundell at the Deva in the summer. The 30-year-old has played for Everton and Mansfield in his career, but is set for a move as his contract runs out at the end of the season.