ANTHONY JOHNSON is disappointed that the uncertainty over funding is taking the shine off Chester’s “fabulous season”.

All clubs in the National League and north and south divisions have been told that future funding to get them through the coronavirus crisis will be issued in the form of loans and not grants.

Some clubs only agreed to start the season because they were told funding would be available to help them without crowds.

Chester were among a number of National League North clubs who put pressure on the authorities to help them survive as they issued a statement last week.

Talks are on-going with the National League and member clubs about what steps they take next.

The Blues go into tomorrow’s game at bottom Blyth Spartans sitting second in National League North and co-manager Johnson is frustrated that events off the pitch are overshadowing the Blues’ promotion challenge.

“You are wondering and waiting to see what is going on,” said Johnson.

“We try to do things right as a football club in terms of anyone that is coming in has had to do so voluntarily.

“It just sticks in my throat that we get to a position where we have had a fabulous season playing really good stuff and through no fault of our own, as a club we look like we are going to end up being punished for it.

“The most important thing is the club surviving, let’s not get away from that.

“We will have to wait and see what happens. Fingers crossed we get some kind of help with the funding; if not, I don’t know what is going to happen.”

Chester are six points behind leaders Gloucester but the deficit would have been less than that had the Blues held on for victory at Bradford Park Avenue on Tuesday.

Danny Elliott and John Johnston put Chester 2-0 up at the break and although Bradford levelled, Jamie Morgan’s stunning 89th minute volley looked like sealing a third Blues win in a row.

However, a stoppage time own goal meant it finished 3-3 and although delighted with Morgan’s spectacular strike, Johnson was disappointed not to see the game out.

“It was well deserved, I thought Jamie was brilliant, so good. He got the penalty as well,” added Johnson.

“But we have been there before; Gloucester where we switch off and the naivety comes into it, we don’t make a tackle and we score an own goal. It was poor.

“To put in a performance in possession as good as that is really pleasing but on the other side of the coin, they will be saying that they could have won the game.

“They had numerous chances to make something happen as well.”

Johnson’s main priority tomorrow is ending a horrendous run of results in the North East,

“ A bad record in the north east, you’re not wrong there,” added Johnson, whose side has lost at Blyth, Spennymoor, Darlington and minnows Dunston in the last two seasons.

“We lost 8-1 at Blyth and it was 2-2 up there last season - and they were bottom of the league then too.

“I don’t know what it is about us up there and we’ve tried everything we can to break that hoodoo. Different routes or different stop-offs, we don’t know.

“Whether it’s the six hour round trip, I don’t know but we can’t use it as an excuse tomorrow.

“We’ve got to go there and win and if we do that, it makes the point at Bradford a good point. Because you’d always settle for four points from two away games.”