Davies pays price for poor start

Chester have sacked manager Simon Davies after winning just three Coca-Cola League Two games so far and exiting the FA Cup with a 3-0 defeat to Millwall on Saturday.

Former Manchester United midfielder Davies, 34, was appointed caretaker manager after Bobby Williamson's departure in March and was handed a two-year contract in the summer after keeping the Blues in the Football League.

Chairman Stephen Vaughan told the Liverpool Daily Post: "This was an extremely difficult decision to come to, but unfortunately this is a results driven business, and the facts are that positive results haven't been forthcoming this season."

He added: "Simon is an extremely personable and likeable bloke, obviously I wish him well in his future career which I am sure will blossom in time.

"He was excellent with our youth set up so possibly there may be an opening in that department in the future, but at the moment my major concern is getting the right man into the club to consolidate the affairs of the first team."

Chester are 19th in the table with 13 points from 15 games and would be third from bottom had Rotherham, Bournemouth and Luton not all been hit with pre-season points deductions.