CHESTER have had to postpone Hereford’s Bank Holiday Monday visit due to storm damage last week which is still affecting their stadium.

A statement issued by the National League this afternoon said: “Due to the continuing issues affecting basic power supply and electronic safety equipment within the stadium at Chester FC, despite efforts to return the stadium to an operational and safe mode, in time for the Bank Holiday Monday fixture on 27th August versus Hereford FC in the Vanarama National League North, it has reluctantly been postponed to a date to be arranged.

“Consultation was taken throughout with regards to this decision with the local Safety Advisory Group, The National League and both Clubs along with a number of possible alternative arrangements being eventually discounted due to match management staffing, policing and safe stewarding levels which would have been necessary to stage this specific fixture elsewhere at short notice.”

It was considered for the fixture to be reversed to Edgar Street but that was considered unviable with Bradford Park Avenue also visiting on Saturday.

Hereford FC Club Secretary Martin Watson told the club’s website today: “We had a number of groups to consider in making arrangements in switching the fixture. Our dozens of volunteers, the Police, the Club Staff, and the companies that assist us in getting matches on at Edgar Street would have all needed to be available to prepare and man the stadium as well as sell the tickets for two games in three days.

“It quickly became apparent that we would have been short in some areas, largely due to it being a Bank Holiday, so the possibility of playing at Edgar Street was discounted by last Friday.

“Once that was done, the National League set out a clear plan for Chester to meet to enable the League to be confident that the game would pass their local Safety Advisory Group’s approval. The League kept us fully informed of the situation and we prepared for both possible outcomes, receiving tickets from Chester to sell as soon as the decision was made.”