Priority is quality for Blues over quantity

MINIMAL transfer activity is the name of the game for Chester FC boss Calum McIntyre who is more than happy with the business undertaken so far.

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The Blues are back in training and preparing for their first preseason friendly on Saturday, away to Bath City (3pm). McIntyre’s squad then visit Runcorn Linnets next Tuesday (July 15).

“We felt it was really important to retain the core group that got to a playoff final,” McIntyre explained via the club.

“We retained nine of the starting XI, with one returning to their parent club in the Premier League [James Storer] and to the Football League for a fee [Harrison Burke, Walsall].

“But we're quite clear about what we wanted to add. And the work to do that is pretty consistent.

“This time of year comes around, you get the group together, you assemble it, and the work starts on the training ground. I enjoy the work, I enjoy being on the training pitch, I enjoy working with the staff, especially the players.

“So it's a bit of a cliche but I’m raring to go and we're starting to build the platform for what we want to do over the next 10, 11, 12 months.”

McIntyre was delighted with the second half of last season when Chester roared to the playoffs and won two knockout matches before losing in the final at Scunthorpe United.