JON McCARTHY has called on Chester fans to ‘lose the negativity’ which he feels held the club back last season.

The Blues slumped to a 19th placed finish in the National League last term and suffered eight consecutive home defeats as their form nose-dived.

But after a summer of impressive transfer business, Blues’ fans are in a positive mood and McCarthy wants that to filter into the stands when the new season begins on August 5 at Solihull Moors.

“I’m very excited about what we’re doing here and I want everyone to get behind that,” he said. “I want to lose the negativity that is holding this club back. There’s an element of that and it needs to go.

“I need everybody out there to stop it, I won’t allow that negativity around my dressing room and the place.

“We’ve taken steps over the summer to make sure that doesn’t creep in amongst my players and I don’t want to hear it in the stands, the forums, the media, if we’re going to achieve anything then we need everyone behind us.

“That’s the big rallying call, lose the negativity and let’s see if I can get us off to a good start because I’ve got a feeling we could do something quite exciting this year.

“Some people don’t appreciate what we’ve done here. Everybody who has worked here, played for the club, volunteered, they do an incredible job and that should be appreciated.”