CHESTER CITY'S expulsion from the Football Conference is still causing concern for a number of Blue Square Premier Division clubs.
Tamworth are among 10 clubs from the Blue Square Premier who have appealed to the FA after Chester’s record was expunged when they were booted out of the league.
And the Midland outfit is now urging the Football Association to ‘do the right thing’ by restoring six points lost in the wake of Chester City’s demise.
The Prem 10 – who include Stevenage Borough, Oxford United, Rushden and Diamonds, and Kidderminster Harriers – claim the Conference failed to give clubs the chance to vote to give all clubs yet to play Chester the three points, rather than wiping out Chester’s record.
They claim there is a precedent after the High Court backed UniBond League clubs when Spennymoor failed to complete their season, but now the Conference have until April 8 to reply. The FA will then arrange a hearing.
Tamworth secured two wins in their games against Chester – as did Kidderminster – and they feel they have lost out. Instead Gateshead, who lost twice to Chester, and Luton, who drew both games, will benefit with the Deva side’s record being expunged.
Gary Mills’ Lambs lie four points from the danger zone but had Chester’s record remained they would have a six-point cushion from relegation.
Tamworth assistant manager Darron Gee says the Chester fall-out has had a negative impact on his players.
“We hope the FA will do the right thing in the appeal,” he said. “I think we were reeling from ‘losing’ the six points. Instead of being eight or nine points clear we have dropped back and I think that has brought a lot of anxiety.
“There is a precedent in the Spennymoor case. The Conference clubs did not have the chance to vote on another option to award points and if that had been the case I think there would have been a different vote.”
Tamworth, though, insist the safest way to survival is to win more games and that means rediscovering their goalscoring form. The Lambs extended their six-game winless run in Saturday's 1-1 draw at York City.
Meanwhile, Glenn Rule and Ben Jones have both joined promotion-chasing Colwyn Bay.
The former Chester City duo signed for the Unibond League Division One North side ahead of last week's transfer deadline.
Rule, who can operate in defence or midfield, made 26 appearances for Chester.
Birkenhead-born Rule, 20, was left without a club following City's liquidation, but Bay manager, Neil Young, wasted no time in pouncing for the talented youngster.
"Other clubs have been looking at Glenn, including clubs from the Football League, but their signing restrictions has meant he’s able to come to us," said Young.
"He’s a great acquisition at an important time for us as we’re going through a rough patch."
Jones, 17, is a striker who made several Football League appearances during his first year as an apprentice at Chester and has been capped twice for the Welsh Under 17s.
Colwyn Bay may have to wait up to two weeks for international clearance before naming Jones in their side as additional paperwork has to be completed and submitted to FIFA in line with rules for players under 18.
Accrington Stanley have signed first year scholars Josh O’Connell, Nick Walker and Ben Whitcomb following the demise of Chester City.
All three players will transfer their academic work to Accrington and Rossendale College alongside their new team-mates.
And Rochdale have added former Manchester United and Scunthorpe United left back Michael Lea to their ranks for the final promotion run in. Lea was signed by Mick Wadsworth for Chester City in pre-season.
And Chester City's former reserve team goalkeeper, Andrew Murphy, has joined Unibond League outfit Kendal Town.