Chester boss Steve Burr rebuilds following relegation reprieve

Steve Burr signed a two-year deal to stay on as Chester manager in May - before City's relegation reprieve

Chester manager Steve Burr has signed two players and recruited a new assistant following the club's relegation reprieve on Tuesday.

On the very day that Hereford United were expelled from the Conference Premier, Burr signed one of their former players, Kingsley James, 22.

He has now followed that by signing 24-year-old winger Wayne Riley from Conference North side Hednesford Town.

And he has also brought in experienced Jon McCarthy as his assistant manager.

Northern Ireland international Jon McCarthy became a £1m player when signed by Birmingham in 1997

"The squad is starting to take shape now," said Burr, who signed a two-year contract in May, before Chester's fate was known.

Former York City, Port Vale and Birmingham City winger McCarthy, 43, will also take on a dual role as the club's first Community Trust chief executive.

He replaces Carl Macauley, Burr's assistant over the final weeks of the campaign, who has been appointed manager of City's non-league Merseyside neighbours Marine.

Yorkshire-born James began his career at Sheffield United before joining Port Vale in 2011, moving on to Hereford last summer, following an initial loan move in January 2013.

"He is still young, yet has Football League experience," added Burr. "He will be a key player for us this season."

James added: "When I heard of Chester's interest there was only one club I wanted to join. The manager you only hear good things about and the crowds and the size of the club is huge. There are some exciting times ahead for us."

Riley, who turned down Chester's local rivals Wrexham last summer to join Hednesford, hit 12 goals in 23 starts for the Pitmen as they fell just shy of automatic promotion in Conference North.

He shot to national attention at his first club Northwich Victoria when, at the age of 19, he scored the goals that knocked Charlton Athletic out of the FA Cup.

Chester had already made one signing, striker Sean McConville, who was with Conference North side Stalybridge Celtic last season.