Batchelor insists Chester deal is still on

MAVERICK businessman John Batchelor has insisted his £2m bid for Chester City is still being considered by the club.

According to Mr Batchelor Chester’s chairman Stephen Vaughan has agreed on a price but has reservations over the future plans for the club.

Mr Batchelor wants to rebrand Chester as Harchester United after a fictional side featured in the former Sky series Dream Team. He said he has a lucrative sponsorship deal lined up and can boost support by attracting fans of the Footballers’ Wives-style TV show.

Mr Vaughan told reporters earlier this month that he would not sell to Mr Batchelor because of his controversial plans.

But the Knutsford-based businessman, who tried to implement a similar plan at Mansfield Town earlier this year, told TheBusinessDesk: “Mr Vaughan is satisfied we’ve got the money. His big problem is what we want to do with the club. I know he’s under pressure form the fans not to sell it to me.”

He said he had lined up a sponsorship deal worth three times the club’s gate income but would not give the sponsor’s name. As well as rebranding the club Mr Batchelor wants to rename the stadium and change the club’s colours.

He dismissed fans’ concerns saying they should not expect a vote in the future of the club and it would be cheaper if the 1,800 regulars did not turn up to the League Two side’s matches.

Neither Mr Vaughan or Chester’s managing director Rob Gray could be reached for comment.

Mr Batchelor, a former chairman of York city, changed the club’s name to York City Soccer Club when he was at Bootham Crescent to attract American interest.