The success of this Chester team won't just be about the players on the pitch
Phil Parkinson has been busy building his Blues setup on and off the field this summer
When Phil Parkinson arrived at Chester at the start of May he knew how big the task was.
Having seen success at Nantwich Town and, most notably, Altrincham, where he guided the Robins to promotion from the Northern Premier League to the National League play-offs and full-time football during his nine years at the helm, the Blues had long settled on the man they wanted to replace former boss Calum McIntyre.
While Parkinson’s ability to deliver success on the pitch had a body of work to prove that he was a sound choice, he was in the building to lead the transition of a club from part-time to full-time football, understanding the challenges that came with it and the support network that was required to maximise what was available.
None of what is happening now is a surprise to Chester chiefs. The need for the club to move through the gears off the pitch, within the confines of the model and the budget, was something that was part of the discussions at a very early stage.
