The Blues have been making enquiries about securing the services of Liverpool centre half Godwin Antwi on a season-long loan.

The 20-year-old Ghana-born defender signed for Liverpool from Spanish club, Real Zaragoza, in August 2005, and has had loan spells at Accrington Stanley and Hartlepool.

He played a key role in helping to keep Accrington safe during his nine-game loan spell towards the end of the 2006-2007 season at the Lancashire club.


* RYAN LOWE is continuing to interest Chester boss Simon Davies.

The former Blues attacking midfielder is out of favour at Crewe Alexandra and has been attracting enquiries from several clubs including the Blues.

The 29-year-old, who is moving into the final year of his contract, ended last season on loan at Stockport County and appears surplus to Crewe requirements.

Davies said: "Signing Ryan Lowe is a possibility, but it might go on for a little while.

"Ryan has still got a year left on his contract at Crewe and he's basically trying to find out if he is wanted or not.

"I don't know whether there will be a chance of him leaving Crewe and whether we could sort out a deal for him.

"I've spoken to Steve Holland (Crewe first team coach) about Ryan and he confirmed the player had still got a year left on his contract.

"I'm intending to talk with Steve again when he returns from holiday.

"If something can happen then I feel Ryan is a player I will be interested in because, like Anthony Barry, he has shown he can play at a higher level.

"If we're lucky enough to get players in who have played at the top end of this division or a division higher then I'd take them."

Lowe scored 14 goals in 36 starts for Chester during the 2005-06 season.

Davies is confident that Chester can do well when the season kicks off after the disappointment of finishing just above the relegation places last term.

He said: "Everyone wants to put a dream team together, but we've all got budgets to work to and we don't do badly.

"The owner supports this club very well and I know for a fact that we're up with the best in terms of our squad and the money that is paid out.

"We'll get on with what we've got and try and sign one or two additions.

"I'm still looking to sign a reserve keeper to put pressure on John Danby, but we're not too far off. People might doubt that, but
hopefully the fans won't.

"I'm really looking forward to the new season with the squad we've got and with the fitness regime we're going to install into the club.

"We'll have a group of lads who will have a massive togetherness, and there will be lads in the squad that will be able to run for 90 minutes instead of 70, and not give silly goals away in the last 20 minutes.

"We're looking forward to playing attractive football and having a good season."

Davies admitted he was targeting up to another three signings before the new season, adding: "I might look to get another defender in because the only thing I really need and I'm concerned about is our size at set-pieces.

"I don't want to pass teams to death and go and lose 1-0, or get beat 2-1 after teams we play have launched high balls into our box.

"We've got players in Kevin Ellison, John Murphy, and Paul Linwood who have size, but I think we really need another one."

Davies confirmed that ex-Bradford City midfielder Eddie Johnson had rejected terms at Chester to join Crewe Alexandra on a short-term contract.

Meanwhile, Davies admitted he had been impressed with how well his talks had gone with new signings Jay Harris and David Mannix who have penned two-year deals.

He said: "They were asking when training starts and all they want to do now is put a Chester shirt on and do well for the club.

"Mark Hughes did a good job for us last season but I felt the core of our team was lacking, and now we've got two or three extra bodies in there that will create competition.

"Jay and David are fit young men who want to play football the same way I want to play.

"We want to play a system that can see everyone getting on the ball, and when we lose the ball we're wanting to win it back, and want to get in people's faces. I want to see us doing the ugly part of the game well so we can then take care of the ball."

* Chester have switched two home league games to Sundays and made them all-ticket following police advice.

The Blues will now face Shrewsbury Town on Sunday, September 21, (12 noon kick-off), and they will entertain Port Vale at the Deva Stadium, on Sunday, October 19, (12 noon kick-off).