Chester are closing in on a new manager with the club’s board set to meet on Monday night to decide between two final candidates.

The search for Marcus Bignot’s successor has dragged on longer than Chester had originally hoped, after a series of talks with their original target, former Leeds United boss Neil Redfearn, broke down just over a week ago with the parties unable to agree terms.

Discussions with ‘three to four’ potential incumbents took place last week, with the Blues board hoping to agree on a decision tonight with the view of offering the job to their first choice.

“There will be two proposals for the board to consider (on Monday night),” City Fans United chairman David Harrington-Wright explained.

“I’m hopeful the board will be able to make a decision and make an offer to our chosen candidate. I certainly hope that will be the case.

“From the club’s perspective we now need to get someone in place as soon as possible. There now needs to be movement in terms of next season, the set-up and how the squad looks and those are decisions for the new manager.

“If things move forward in the way I hope they will, then I hope we will make a positive decision for the football club. The decision must be made for the good of Chester.”

Asked if both of the final candidates are of a high calibre which will satisfy the club’s long-suffering fanbase, the chairman replied: “Very much so, both are very good candidates in my opinion.

“Just as our initial preferred candidate was generally received as being of high calibre, I think the general fanbase and everyone connected with the club will be pleased with the names we’re considering.”

Cautious optimism has spread around the Deva fanbase since the identity of a financial donor for the club was revealed late last week, with Chester entrepreneur Stuart Murphy offering the club financial support, with contracts set to be finalised in the coming weeks in order for a 'significant investment' to be received by the club.

Murphy – the founder of business rates company Exacta – has promised to back the club sufficiently to ‘never see the club run out of money again’ and wants to see the Blues challenging for an immediate promotion out of National League North, something Harrington-Wright was delighted to hear.

“Hopefully an appointment can help draw a line under last season and we can move on,” he said.

“We’ve got to be careful as a football club as we don’t want a repeat of last season. However, Stuart has made his intentions clear that he wants to help Chester get back up the divisions and ultimately to do that, we do need an increased budget.

“With all the best will in the world, you could put Jose Mourinho in charge but on our current playing budget, it would be difficult to achieve promotion.

“There is talk Stuart could directly improve the playing budget, but his donation will certainly help the infrastructure of the football club.

“What Stuart does bring, which we are incredibly keen to tap into, is a wealth of experience of the business-side of things and we believe his contacts will prove invaluable in helping the club grow and increasing our revenue through sponsorship.”