Chester aim to choose new boss in four weeks as initial discussions held with 'strong' candidate

The Blues are searching for a replacement for Calum McIntyre from the start of next season

Chester aim to have an agreement in place with the club’s new manager in the next four weeks.

After it was announced last months that the Blues would be parting company with current boss Calum McIntyre at the end of the season, the club has received expressions of interest from 16 managers with EFL and National League experience before formally advertising for the role.

On Wednesday afternoon, members of the Blues hierarchy met with one ‘strong’ candidate whom they actively reached out to to gauge interest through initial discussions, which were understood to be positive.

The matter will be discussed at a Board meeting on Monday evening where the ‘criteria and process will be finalised’, according to club sources.

One of the main names linked to the post is that of former Altrincham boss Phil Parkinson, who left the National League side after eight seasons back in December. He had been linked with the Morecambe job that eventually went to Jim Bentley.

Other names such as former Boston United manager Graham Coughlan, and ex-Yeovil Town and Peterborough United boss Mark Cooper have also emerged as potential options according to external sources.

The Chester plan is to have the new man chosen in a swift manner so that he can better plan for the 2026/27 season and identify recruitment early, something that the club were impacted by coming into the coming season due to their extended season into last season’s play-offs.

The club’s stance is that in the short-term they remain “very much focused on supporting the team and current management to end the season as strongly as possible.”