Chester face a ‘massive’ decision in appointing their new manager according to current caretaker boss Calum McIntyre.

The already-relegated Blues are on the verge of appointing their fifth permanent manager since reforming and hope to have their new man in place before Saturday’s final game of the season, away to Barrow.

Who leads Chester into National League North is now a matter for the club’s board, and academy boss McIntyre believes it is a crucial decision for the future of the football club.

“It’s massive getting the appointment of the new manager right,” he said.

“Where is the football club going? I’d like to see a manager who has a real interest in youth development and wants to develop players. A strong eye for recruitment and someone with the right contacts to be able to bring in players who are the right fit for the football club.

“Players need to come from the right catchment area and who can add value. They must have a very strong coaching background to get full value for your money.

“Whatever model it goes down, have those as the pillars to appointing your manager and you are halfway there.

“The club needs its supporters arguably more than ever. They are the making of it.

“We felt the lift after an hour (against Maidstone), I’ve never experienced anything like that and it needs them behind us. But getting the manager right is the first of those building blocks and then we go from there.

“There’s stuff to be positive about but of course there’s things to do better and it doesn’t take a genius to work that out does it? Look at some of the situations that have unfolded this season.

“It’s a huge football club, absolutely massive. Get the appointment right and work from there.”

McIntyre has impressed with his maturity since being thrown into the limelight as caretaker manager following Marcus Bignot’s sacking, and it has been suggested in certain quarters that a bigger club may come in for the 24-year-old due to his sterling work with the Blues academy.

However, the Chester-born rookie manager has firmly ruled himself out of the running for the first-team job on a permanent basis and says he is concentrating fully on preparing both the first-team and his Scholars side for their upcoming fixtures.

“I’ve got no ambition to be the first-team manager at this moment in time,” he added.

“It’s a massive compliment and I’m really flattered. I’m a Chester boy, I grew up in CH3 and now I live in CH1. I’m immensely passionate and really proud of where I come from.

“Of course there are other footballing opportunities in this world but right now I’m going to prepare a team for Barrow next week and do that properly.

“The academy scenario is no great credit to me. It’s credit to the players, volunteers and academy coaches. I’m just a small cog in the wheel.

“I can’t wait to prepare for the National League Cup final with my under 18s, seeing more of them, and see more progress to the first-team.

“I would like to think I do an alright job with the academy and I’m flattered but my focus is the academy. Good players make good football teams but good coaches guide them.

“I’ll certainly enjoy this summer and I can’t wait to go and watch some cricket to be honest!”