CHESTER joint-managers Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley have assumed full control over tactics and strategy this season.

The club’s return to a hybrid training model means the managerial duo now oversee each of the club’s four daily sessions, which run from Monday to Friday.

The shift away from a part-time structure prompted the departure of first team coach Derek Egan and goalkeeping coach Jimmy Longdin and the pair have not been replaced.

Morley, whose side impressed in the goalless draw with league Two Carlisle United in midweek, feels that the restructuring of the coaching system will be beneficial as he and Johnson seek to implement new ideas at the club.

“It’s the first season in 10 years where we’ve worked without a coach,” said Morley.

“So the responsibility is now with me and Johnno in terms of how we want to play, where we can close gaps, and look at units.

“I’ve felt that over the last couple of weeks that we haven’t given the lads masses of information, it’s been little bits of information and looking back at goals we’ve conceded last season and this season as well.”

Chester are now four games into their pre-season schedule, with a 9-1 thrashing of Newquay providing their only victory in that sequence.

And while Morley accepts that friendly results count for little so early in the summer, he maintains that the Blues have made solid progress since their 7-1 humbling by Wigan a fortnight ago.

He added: “The Wigan game gave us a massive platform and we’re now starting to benefit from that seven-goal drubbing. We’re now starting to look at distances, playing down the sides rather than through the middle of the pitch and the lads are starting to get it.

“Yes we got beat 7-1 by Wigan, but we took so many positives out of that game.”

The Blues were unfortunate not to have beaten Steven Pressley’s Carlisle side, who were reduced to 10 men following Hallam Hope’s senseless elbow on Blues full-back Kevin Roberts.

Despite Chester being unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage, Morley has faith in the club’s striking options in the season ahead.

“The goals will come,” he said.

“I know it was a disappointment last season that we didn’t score as many goals as we should have, but I think George (Waring) is looking sharp, Danny Elliott could have scored a hat-trick on a different day and Duds and Iwan Murray did well - so there were loads of positives to take out of the game.”