I knew, when Ian Rush walked out onto Anfield last night in front of Juventus and Liverpool fans, that his next action after leaving the ground would be to contact the chairman and tell him he was resigning…if he hadn’t done so already.
It was reported in the Liverpool Post that morning that it was ‘D-day’ for the former Liverpool ace, just three day after Stephen Vaughan decided to sack Rush’s long-term assistant, Mark Aizlewood.
The chairman gave no reason for Aizlewood’s sacking, other than to let on that club secretary Dave Burford was agreeing a settlement package with Rush’s former Welsh international team-mate.
Mark Aizlewood was assistant to Rush with the Welsh U17’s before and during the first few months of the duo’s reign at Chester, and Ian Rush delivered a parting shot at the Chairman last night as he reflected on the move which happened without any of his consent, as he confirmed to the press, his resignation.

"Unfortunately, throughout my tenure, various events have gradually made it impossible for me to carry on," said Rush.

"The club's decision to terminate the contract of my assistant, Mark Aizlewood, without my consent was the final straw.

"I was already considering my position after the much publicised comments from the club a few weeks ago.

"Loyalty is vital in football and I am a loyal person. When a valued member of my team is dismissed against my wishes, I have no option but to follow my principles."

Despite results taking a downward turn after an initial up-turn, Rush defended his record in charge, having taken over with the club propping up League Two.

"Since I came to Chester, the team has lost only 13 games in 41.

"We have steered the club, slowly but surely, away from the foot of the table - where it was when I joined. Today the club is a good nine points away from relegation.

"People talk of a slump but how can you slump from the foot of the table to nine points clear of relegation?

"As for the future, my team and I have plenty to offer in management and coaching and I hope to return to the game as soon as possible.

"I wish Chester all the best for the future and would like to say thank you to the players who have been a pleasure to work with."

Ian Rush began at Chester in late August, assisted by Aizlewood after Mark Wright left the club on the eve of the new season, prior to a very short, and very unsuccessful caretaker manager spell courtesy of former Wigan manager, Ray Mathias.
Rush arrived, and took the club on a run of 10 games undefeated, but only after a 3-0 defeat to Darlington (in which he was appointed ‘manager’ but didn’t actually manage), and a 3-1 defeat at Boston, but to his credit, this coming after just 3 days preparation with the team.

The next two games were never foreseeable. Chester faced two teams, who were at the time, and still are, hanging around at the top of the table. A home game at Macclesfield first-Chester came away with a 1-0 win after an injury time header by defender Danny Collins (our first win of the season) and a another victory, at Scunthorpe United, 2-1. It followed with 4 draws and 4 victories as Chester found themselves quickly elevating off the foot of the table, but only before Chester faced the big boys of the league in Yeovil Town. It wasn’t good. Chester came back after a 4-1 defeat as they crashed back down to Earth again.
Soon after, Chester were forced to sell 3 or 4 of their best players, as a tinge of disagreements began with the Chairman and his high-profile employee. Danny Collins went to Sunderland for £140, 000 (of which 20%, £28, 000, went to former club Buckley Town); prolific goal scorer Daryl Clare went to Boston for a cut price and winger Kevin Ellison left for Hull (£100, 000). Wing-back, Kevin McIntyre suspiciously left for Macclesfield, as did striker Darryn Stamp, who had fallen out of favour under Rush and moved down the leagues to Stevenage.

In October 2004, as Chester continued on their unbeaten record, Ian Rush was contacted about following up Mark Hughes in the Welsh international job. He became odds-on-favourite with John Toshack to take it, before he pulled it, and Toshack became the only suitable replacement.
He made the fair comment that he wanted to learn the trade better first in the lower leagues before he one day hoped to take to the international stage once again. Stephen Vaughan rewarded him with another year on his contract, because of his loyalty to the club. His contract now read he would be manager for 3-and-a-half years, a decision Vaughany soon came to regret as he tried to reach a settlement last month to terminate his, and Aizlewood’s contract.
The team was struggling to find the net, conceding goals became a habit, confidence was blatantly low, and for the first time, fans came to matches to show their anger, with cries of ‘Rush out, Rush out’ from the Chester crowd, and an embarrassing 5-0 defeat at locals, Shrewsbury Town.
Whereas Aizlewood at first agreed to this settlement package, Rush decided against after consulting his solicitor, and Chester’s following game, with the duo still in charge, was a slightly more convincing 3-1 victory at home to fellow strugglers, Rushden and Diamonds.
It was short lived joy once again though. Chester beat bottom of the league Kidderminster by just 1 goal next, before defeats at Yeovil, Grimbsy and Shrewsbury Town, during which City failed to register a single goal and conceded another 8 to add to their poor goal difference.
Despite registering 7 points from 9 prior to Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Darlington, Rush’s positions was speculated to be ever more in doubt…unfortunately, it was.

It was discovered recently that Chester were the highest wage payers in the entire league, and yet we lay just 9 points off relegation, 5th off bottom.
It was a shame that the job came about when it did for Ian Rush, who I’m confident one day will make a fantastic manager. I only believed he struggled in the transfer market- this being his first job at club management level.
The training was good (or so I believe), but during his 8 month spell, he bought in 3 players…permanently, and a further 11 on loan!
I think that was the downfall of the team-I didn’t even realise you could have that many players on a loan basis. That together with all Mark Wright’s summer signings probably required this coming summer to get to grips with it all properly, and to make his own signings-his own team.

But the chairman makes the decisions, and I wish Ian Rush all the best for the future.

Cheers Rushy.


Oh, and to add to a bad day, Ian Rush became officially, the worst player to put on a Wrexham shirt in a poll of which the results were discovered today. I'm sure it must have something to do with the fact he took up the job here at rivals Chester!

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