Saints in Chester friendly setback

The New Saints' pre-season friendly against Chester City early next month has been called off due to the Deva Stadium outfit's problems with the English FA, writes JOHN BRIDGWATER.

The game should have been played on Tuesday, August 4, but general manager Ian Williams confirmed it has been cancelled, adding that the club now hoped to arrange a replacement game for the same date.

Chester have been suspended from football by the FA amid fears they may not being allowed to start the forthcoming Blue Square Premier League campaign.

City entered administration in May but moved out of it a month later when former chairman Stephen Vaughan, under the guise of a new company called Chester City Football Club 2004 Limited, bought back the club.

But they have yet to receive ratification that the transfer of the old company to the new company has been accepted by the FA.

Airbus UK Broughton were forced to cancel a game against City scheduled for next week, while Chester have called-off matches against Liverpool, Marine and AFC Telford.

l Despite drawing 1-1 in their Europa League away leg with Sigma Olomouc, Fram Reykjavik have crashed out of the competition.

The Icelandic side, who beat The New Saints 4-2 on aggregate in the first qualifying round, went down 2-0 at home to their opponents from the Czech Republic, who scored both goals in the second half.