Chester to go full-time after FA Cup defeat

Following their FA Cup fourth-round qualifying defeat to Kidderminster Harriers recently, National League side Chester City will be going full-time, according to boss Marcus Bignot.
The former Queens Park Rangers and Millwall man has only been in charge of the club for a matter of weeks, however the 43-year-old has quickly looked to make an impression, especially after some supporters stating it was the worst performance ever seen from a Chester team.
The loss means that Chester FC have exited the competition at this stage for the third consecutive year, missing out on a place in the first-round draw on Monday evening as a result.
Having gone down 2-0 at Aggborough to a team playing in a division below them, Bignot did remarkably well to maintain his composure in public.
However, it was seemingly a different story behind closed doors, with the part-time squad now facing the prospect of having to commit to an extra day’s training during the week, with those unwilling to do so facing an uncertain future at the club.
It remains to be seen as to how quickly this will come to fruition, with Bignot stating: “We need to go full-time and I’ve told the boys it’s going to be a full-time programme starting from Monday. It has to be. You can’t expect to compete at National (League) level, never mind in the North, where there’s six or seven professional teams.”
Chester take on Boreham Wood at the Deva Stadium this weekend, with some generous BetAndSkill.com free bets the perfect promotion for those looking to wager upon the outcome of the match. Chester currently sit 21^st in the National League standings, just five points ahead of bottom placed Torquay United.
Meanwhile, with Saturday’s opponents Boreham Wood comfortably inside the top half, it could be another tough afternoon for both players and supporters.
The visitors also secured their place in the FA Cup first round draw thanks to a convincing victory over National League South side St Albans City, where they will face off against League One side Blackpool.
Manager Bignot could well introduce Offrande Zanzala to the playing squad ahead of the game, with the youngster having joined on a month’s loan from Championship side, Derby County.
Despite having missed the entirety of last season through a long-term injury, the Democratic Republic of the Congo striker is known for his power and skill in attacking positions.
With Chester having scored just 12 goals all season, the fewest in the entire division, the arrival of Zanzala could not have come at a better time, with the youngster having a good goalscoring record before suffering injury last year.
Meanwhile, Chester’s encounter with Eastleigh on Septmber 30th has been rearranged, with the team now heading to Hampshire on November 4^th.
The original match was cancelled just 30 minutes before kick-off due to the pitch being deemed unplayable. The game was originally rescheduled for October 31^st, before both teams were knocked-out of the FA Cup this week.