Chester’s relegation from the National League is confirmed despite still having four games to play after being comfortably outplayed by rivals Tranmere Rovers in a 2-0 reversal at the Deva.

It’s been a miserable week for the crisis-hit Blues on and off the pitch and things didn’t get any better here as Micky Mellon’s promotion-chasing visitors ran out easy victors with goals either side of the break from Andy Cook and James Norwood.

This latest defeat – a 23rd of an utterly appalling campaign – coupled with Solihull Moors’ 1-0 win at Hartlepool, means Chester will be playing their football in the National League North next season. They will do so without manager Marcus Bignot, who was told last weekend his contract will not be renewed at the end of the season.

Bignot was forced into one change from the side who lost 1-0 at Macclesfield Town on Easter Monday, with centre-half James Jones ruled out (ankle), replaced by Dominic Vose with Andy Halls switching to right-back.

The current apathy amongst Chester’s fanbase was evident with the Harry McNally Terrace very sparsely populated, many supporters choosing to vote with their feet at the end of a week of turmoil at the Deva.

The visitors had the first major chance on eight minutes as Norwood connected with Connor Jennings’ left wing cross and rattled the bar from 10 yards out, Cook unable to turn in the rebound.

This almost felt like an away game for Chester given the 1,800 travelling fans from the Wirral but the Blues were showing some promising signs in possession, Vose and Craig Mahon linking up well but Harry White failed to get on the end of a decent cross.

Vose danced past Adam Buxton down the left flank and fed White in the centre of the box but his effort was charged down by Ritchie Sutton.

Jeff Hughes tripped Mahon and was lucky to escape a booking, before Andy Firth had to be alert to repel Ben Tollitt’s low drive.

Tollitt was getting plenty of joy on the right flank as Myles Anderson struggled to get to grips with the winger, who once again skimmed his man and fired a low shot which Firth parried, Cook flagged offside when attempting to score from the rebound.

Gary Roberts and Jennings had a heated exchange on the pitch with referee Simon Barrow giving the pair a final warning.

Ryan Astles produced a cracking last-ditch tackle to deny Jennings 12 yards out before Anderson entered the notebook for a crunching tackle on Jennings, the former Wrexham midfielder getting straight up to his credit.

Tranmere were inches away from the opener on 37 minutes as Hughes rattled the upright from a well-worked corner, with Ollie Norburn really beginning to make things tick in midfield.

Just as Chester looked like going in all-square, they once again lost concentration in first-half stoppage time. Hughes’ deep corner found an unmarked Cook at the back post who produced a sublime looping header over Firth to give Rovers the lead with the travelling hordes sent into raptures.

Norburn’s influence continued in the second period as he galloped forward and played a neat one-two with Cook but Liam Ridehalgh’s delivery was too close to Firth.

White skipped past Steve McNulty and should have played in Tom Crawford on his right-hand side but inexplicably ballooned the ball way over the bar.

Jennings and Crawford came to blows on 56 minutes with both players raising their hands and booked for the scuffle. Cook subsequently was played in by Norburn but could only chip well wide.

It was soon 2-0 albeit in controversial circumstances. Norwood was played through by Jennings and when the flag didn’t go up for offside, he scampered clear of the defence and rounded Firth to tap into an unguarded net. Chester’s players were convinced it was offside but the match officials appeared happy enough.

Anderson’s squared pass found Akintunde eight yards out but he delayed his shot and was blocked by McNulty, before Buxton’s piledriver was beaten clear by Firth.

Nathan Brown and Jordan Archer were thrown on by Bignot but it was all in vain and Solihull’s 88th minute winner at Hartlepool confirmed the Blues relegation into National League North.

Chester: Firth; Halls, Hobson, Astles, Anderson, Vose (Brown 81), Roberts, Crawford, Mahon, Akintunde, White (Archer 67); Subs: Dawson, Gough, Cunningham.

Tranmere: Davies, Buxton, Ridehalgh, Sutton, McNulty, Tollitt (Harris 83) Norburn (Wallace 81), Jennings, Hughes, Cook, Norwood (Mangan 75); Subs: Taylor, Monthe.

Referee: Simon Barrow – Kept control of a feisty contest although possibly let down by his linesman for Tranmere’s second goal.

Goals: Cook 45, Norwood 63

Attendance: 3,103 (1,800 from Tranmere)