Chester FC chairman Kieron Shiel on Calum McIntyre, club finances and debunking promotion myth
Blues chairman sits down with The Seal for an exclusive chat
Last month, at the Chester FC annual general meeting, Blues chairman Kieron Shiel, having completed his three-year stint on the board, was re-elected.
As a fan-owned club, holding the position of club chairman comes with significant responsibility, with the person in position there to guide the club, with the assistance of the elected board, through all the trials and tribulations that come with competing in the sixth tier of English football.
Having seen the Blues narrowly miss out on winning promotion to the National League at the end of last season, losing out in extra time in an absorbing contest at eventual winners Scunthorpe United, attention swiftly turned to what this season would hold, and how the feat of last season could not only be matched, but surpassed.
It hasn’t been smooth sailing this season. A struggle to turn draws into wins has hampered progress, and manager Calum McIntyre came under real scrutiny, the kind he hadn’t really experienced in the dugout up until this season.
A call was required. The manager who led the club to a play–off final last season and who has been in charge since May 2022, was given a clear set of objectives for the weeks and months ahead, the kind of time that isn’t always afforded to managers in football, an industry where one knee-jerk reaction leads to another, and eventually a complete abandonment of the football strategy that they had been seeking to adopt in the first place.
Shiel, who during his time as chairman has seen the competitiveness of the team improve under McIntyre, as well as revenue increase thanks to a number of new money-spinning initiatives and improved commercial performance, places a lot of weight in clarity, something that the Blues board have sought to lead on through better communication with the fans.
The statement that followed a 2-1 home loss to Bedford Town in October was measured and fair, but noted a “clear need for an immediate improvement” when it came to on-pitch matters. Since then, the club hasn’t lost a game in the National League North and picked up 12 out of 18 available points, and four points off fourth place with a game in hand. So, did a patient hand pay off?
