Ryan Higgins: Chester to sign AFC Telford United right-back

Liverpudlian Ryan Higgins joined Birmingham City following his release by boyhood club Everton in 2013

Chester are set to sign full-back Ryan Higgins, who has spent the last three months on non-contract terms at their Conference Premier rivals AFC Telford.

Liverpool-born Higgins, 20, has been a Telford ever present since signing as a free agent in mid-September following his release by Birmingham City.

But he pulled out of Telford's New Year's Day fixture at home to Nuneaton, on the advice of his agent.

And he is now expected to complete his move to Steve Burr's Chester.

"I haven't got an issue with him going, but he should have played today." new Telford boss Steve Kittrick told BBC Radio Shropshire following his side's 0-0 draw with Nuneaton.

"He feels that Chester will give him a better chance of going forward, because they train three times a week. But I don't believe that. We made him a really good offer."

Higgins' original decision to sign only on non-contract terms with Telford was because he still wanted the chance to play league football and did not want to be restricted by a contract.

He will join a Chester side who have battled back from a poor start to the season and now stand closer to the Conference play-off places than they do to the relegation zone.