Anthony Johnson insists Chester are ‘not looking for sympathy’ when it comes to transfer fees, after rejecting two verbal offers for striker Jordan Archer.

The 24-year-old – who has a year to run on his current contract - has attracted interest from full-time clubs in National League North, but Johnson and co-boss Bernard Morley say any interested parties must meet their valuation of the player, or else he will remain a Chester player for the 2018-19 campaign.

Archer gave up his day job last season to join Chester when Marcus Bignot offered him full-time football after an excellent run of form for Stourbridge.

Johnson and Morley have since signalled their intentions to switch to a part-time model in order to attract a higher calibre of player, and Johnson says they understand Archer’s reasoning for wanting to stay full-time.

“There’s a couple of interested parties in Jordan Archer,” he explained.

“We’ve had a couple of verbal offers for Jordan but they’ve both been rejected as they were unrealistic and short of our valuation for the player.

“Jordan wants to stay full-time if possible and we have no problem with that. He was brought into the club by the previous manager on a full-time contract, he gave up his job for that, so we fully understand his predicament.

“But equally, we’d love to keep him here as we see him as having a key part to play. But we do understand he wants to stay full-time and we understand that’s what Jordan wants.

“That’s the situation as it stands, and if the right offer does come in then we will listen to the offers, but it must meet our valuation for the player.

“We’re not a club looking for sympathy. The offer and the amount have to be right for the club and for the player.”

Senior duo Ross Hannah and Kingsley James remain available for transfer, with the latter on the radar of National League side Barrow, where he ended last season on-loan from the Blues.

Getting the duo off the books remains crucial to bringing in further additions to the first-team squad, but offers are yet to come in for the pair.

“Both players remain available for transfer and we are just waiting for things to happen,” Johnson added.

“As it stands, they both remain Chester players.”

Johnson and Morley hope to tie up a deal for a fifth summer signing – with National League North experience - early next week, but there are no deals expected over the weekend.