How Chester were punished in the transfer market for play-off run, and what will happen in January
Chester boss Calum McIntyre speaks to The Seal about plans for new additions
Chester boss Calum McIntyre has spoken on the club’s transfer plans for the New Year as the Blues look to try and earn a play-off place in the National League North come the end of the season.
The illness-ravaged Blues, who take on Cheshire rivals Macclesfield at the Deva Stadium this evening looking to address a run of back-to-back 3-1 defeats at the hands of South Shields and AFC Telford United, respectively, will be looking to add to the group in January.
On the top of the shopping list for McIntyre will be a centre back and a striker, with the club already having made moves to make room on the wage bill by moving on summer signing Offrande Zanzala last week to Marine on a permanent deal, and, as revealed by The Seal this morning, transfer listing another summer arrival, central defender James Jones.
Defensively in the past two games, particularly in the first half against Telford on Boxing Day, Chester have allowed what ailed them at the back earlier this season to creep back in, while a lack of a clinical front man has continued to be burdensome when it comes to the Blues turning draws into victories. There is a reason they sit 15th heading into tonight’s game, and it is the fine margins at both ends.
But in order to make changes McIntyre knows that means acknowledging that some recruitment in the summer missed the mark. It could be argued that three of Chester’s best performers this season have been Pat Jones, Lewis Leigh and Hayden Carson, all players who arrived during the current campaign.
Speaking to The Seal on recruitment and what January may hold for the Blues, McIntyre said: “Look, I just try and be honest and at times I don’t know what more you can do. I’m under no illusions that what we might have done in the summer or wanted to do hasn’t worked out for us for one reason or another.
