Calum McIntyre admits his spell in caretaker charge of Chester has been ‘a massive learning experience’ but hopes he has helped restore some unity to the club.

The 24-year-old academy head coach was thrown in at the deep end following Marcus Bignot’s ignominious sacking last month, asked to take charge of the final three first-team matches of the season, despite already having suffered an inevitable relegation from the National League.

Despite 4-2 and 3-1 defeats at the hands of Boreham Wood and Maidstone United, McIntyre had already begun to restore a positive mood around the Deva by blooding several of the club’s academy graduates - with six teenagers involved against Maidstone - and the club’s long-suffering supporters were overjoyed to finally see a long-awaited away victory on the final day of the season at Barrow.

“I’ve enjoyed the two weeks, but it’s been really hard, and I think it should be,” said the rookie boss, who is now set to step aside for a new head coach, although contract negotiations with Chester’s preferred candidate are understood to still be ongoing.

“It’s been a massive learning experience for me.

“It’s felt like everyone has been right behind us and that’s meant the world to me because it isn’t easy. It’s not just turning up, standing on the sidelines.

“The players first and foremost have been top drawer on and off the pitch in what has been a challenging fortnight.

“Jimmy Soul and Kath Hopwood have been immense behind the scenes in reminding me about things and what I should do.

“Paul Kelly, my assistant, and Martin Farley have helped me out for free. They’ve volunteered their time, not because of egos but because they wanted to help.

“The supporters have been unbelievable, and I feel I’ve now earned the opportunity to enjoy the National Alliance Cup Final (with the club’s Scholars) because it’s been in the back of mind to get through this, enjoy it, learn as much as I can, and if that’s a last hurrah then we’ll enjoy that.”

With a new managerial appointment imminent, McIntyre hopes he has done enough to stake a claim to be part of the new-look backroom staff, whether that be as assistant manager or in a further support role.

“I’ve enjoyed that taste but what does the future hold? I’ve stated my intentions and I believe I can bring something to the table in terms of a support-role,” he continued.

“I feel I’ve earned my crust as an academy manager, purely by being backed by unbelievable volunteer staff and top-quality players. There’s a compliment in there somewhere!”

Chester’s win at Barrow – a first away success since beating Ebbsfleet in early January – capped a good fortnight for McIntyre, who hailed the efforts of his players, several of whom may now be set to depart the cash-strapped Blues.

“Very much so but that’s the bare minimum,” he replied when asked if his side had restored some pride and ‘put a shift in’.

“I believe football should be played by maximising ball possession, that’s how you’re going to score, off the ball deny every opportunity you can and turn off the ball moments into on the ball opportunities.

“But the pre-requisites are, you run around a bit, when it’s there to be headed, you head it, when you need to clear your lines, clear it. They are basics, but you must do it. We have done that in the last three games but particularly at Barrow and we got our rewards.

“Looking ahead to next season, you can’t have 11 under 18 boys in your line-up,

“The only way to develop players of your own is they have to play. Some will have learned loads from the experience (against Maidstone) and loads again at Barrow.

“Praise for the players, it would have been easy to go under, but they went and got the job done.”