Pitchero Non League

....transfer from Conference Premier neighbours Macclesfield Town.

Mills, 23, scored nine goals in eight games during a one-month stay at the Exacta Stadium which ended after Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Boston United.

But Chester's attempts to keep the hitman have been scuppered.

The Blues initially thought they had agreed a five-figure fee with Macclesfield last weekend. It came as a surprise, then, when the Silkmen upped the price.

Chester increased their offer only to be told it still fell short.

But even if the clubs had been able to agree on a fee, it is highly unlikely the Blues would have been able to meet Mills' personal terms.

Mills, who has been watched by a host of Football League scouts while playing for Chester, is currently on a full-time contract with Macclesfield which means he gets paid fifty-two weeks a year.

Neil Young's part-time squad are paid for the thirty-eight weeks of the year while the season is in progress.

Blues boss Young admitted after the Boston game that he was ‘fed up to the back teeth’ with the transfer saga.

And he confirmed to the Chester Chronicle that he has pulled the plug on the deal.

Young, who wants to sign a new striker in time for this coming weekend's FA Cup tie, said: "The deal, financially, was not in the best interests of the football club.

"I had to look at the deal from a business point of view and from a playing squad point of view and I have decided to pull out of it.

"Without going into details we did everything, financially, to make it happen.

"It's not anyone's fault when you are part-time and you looking to sign players from full-time clubs. It will always be difficult financially to do.

"We wish Ben well for his future career. I've got a fantastic squad of players and now our attention turns to our next match."

Tags: News | Chester FC

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