Taylor affair still in limbo

Nov 19 2008 by Philip Kirkbride, Birkenhead News

CHESTER CITY owner Stephen Vaughan has denied weekend reports that the Football Association had ruled in Vauxhall Motors’ favour over the Paul Taylor affair.

Following a number of alleged “breaches of contract” by Taylor, City cancelled their loan deal and subsequent permanent transfer of the former Manchester City player with the Blue Square North club.

They are now awaiting a ruling on whether they will still have to pay Motors £30,000, which was originally agreed in the initial transfer.

The 21-year-old striker was three months into a loan deal with Chester City, when – after a spate of ill-discipline – the League Two club sacked him.

Taylor had moved to the Deva Stadium side from the Motormen in an agreement that stated Chester would sign him permanently in January for £30,000.

The money was set to be paid in three installments, but – with two payments totalling £20,000 still outstanding – City sacked Taylor after the striker failed a routine drugs test last month.

Chester claimed that the deal to sign Taylor was void and they would not pay the remaining money to Vauxhall. Motors demanded the money still be paid to them and so sought the help of the FA to solve the case.

On Friday, Vauxhall claimed that the governing body had ruled in their favour but Chester City owner Vaughan denied that his club had been contacted by the FA.

Vaughan said: “We haven’t heard anything from the FA. We are dealing with an extremely delicate situation surrounding the life of Paul Taylor. Until we hear officially from the FA, we certainly won’t be commenting further.”