Chester aiming high

Wright has brought a calm assurance to Chester

By Pete Oliver BBC Sport Online

Having saved Chester City from football oblivion last season, Mark Wright is about to start the second phase of his Deva Stadium rescue mission.

Wright has made a clutch of summer signings to make Chester one of the apparent favourites to mount a promotion challenge in the Nationwide Conference and regain their Football League status.

We have got together some people who are strong enough to get us into the top-ten

Mark Wright

But the former Liverpool and England defender is not one of those outwardly backing City to make the running - and insists that avoiding last season's pitfalls is the number one priority.

He said: "For a club like this we have put a half-decent squad together and we don't want to get into the same position we were in last year.

Nationwide fixtures released

"That would be a crime.

"We have got together some people who are strong enough to get us into the top-ten, but you don't know what's round the corner in football.

"We don't want to make predictions and shout our mouths off. All we want to do is play some football and see what tomorrow brings."

When Wright arrived at Chester at the turn of the year following an unproductive stint in charge at Oxford, the club was in danger of falling out of the Conference.

Brodie joined Chester after being released by Swansea

The 38-year-old, with the backing of new chairman Stephen Vaughan, salvaged their season and led City to mid-table safety.

At the time he was already planning for the coming campaign and the fruits of those labours have started to show.

"We had to have a clear-out and we needed to change the personnel," Wright added.

"We needed proven Conference players and we worked very hard.

"When we got here we started looking at who was out of contract in the summer and who we could bring in.

"We've got to the stage where we are now with one or two more we might be looking to bring in.

"People say we've got money to spend but we haven't paid a penny on transfer fees. We've worked hard to bring in free transfers.

"And we've got a squad together that we think is a lot stronger and has a lot more competition for places.

Sugden is one of Chester's new signings

"I know I've got a side here who have come back fit and if we start well, or come strong, we will give ourselves a chance. That's all you can ask."

Wright may not have spent on transfer fees but he has had the backing to assemble a squad most in the Conference will envy.

He has not yet managed to secure the services of Gary Brabin and will allow a number of players to move on.

Veteran striker Chris Malkin looks poised to pursue a physiotherapy career and Iain Jenkins could take up a youth coaching role.

New forwards

But the roll-call at pre-season training now includes forwards Dave Cameron (from Lincoln City), Steve Brodie (Swansea), Ryan Sugden (Scarborough), Michael Twiss (Leigh RMI) and attacking winger Mickey Brown (Boston United).

Chester sign Brodie

They have been joined by the former Doncaster midfield pairing of Kevin McIntyre and Jimmy Kelly.

Ben Davies has arrived from Kidderminster and at the back Wayne Hatswell has followed Wright up from Oxford. Scott Guyett is tipped to follow.

Wright guided Southport to fourth place in the Conference two seasons ago and a similar finish next April would take Chester into the new-look Conference play-offs with a place in Division Three the prize.

And despite the manager's understandable caution that would appear to be within Chester's scope, especially if the goals start flying in.

"We needed competition up there," Wright admitted.

"When Mark Beesley was missing last season we did really miss him.

"Now we've got people who will be looking over their shoulders who know they've got to train hard and play well and do everything right."

The Conference has been warned.