Guiseley could do without any more weather interruptions as they play catch-up with runaway Blue Square Bet North leaders Chester.

It is a fortnight since the Lions played a league game and tomorrow’s visit from Lee Sinnott’s Altrincham is under threat from the snow. In the meantime, Chester have been pulling away at the summit.

Club secretary Adrian Towers said: “We really need the games on. We are not desperate like Halifax Town, Harrogate and a few other clubs, who are so far behind with their fixtures, but we don’t want to get too far behind our friends at Chester.”

The leaders have stretched their advantage to 16 points while Guiseley have been inactive but Steve Kittrick’s men do now have four games in hand.

Towers feels that the points Chester have on the board are putting them in a stronger position and he believes the infrastructure of the former Football League outfit is another factor in their favour.

“Chester retained their pitch covers and a lot of equipment from the old club,” he said.

“Their ground is also close to the sea and that always helps because the snowfall is never as bad as in the inland areas.

“They are a big club and still have a Conference Premier or League Two type of operation and fan base.

“When they need help to get a game on they can get 50 to 60 people on the pitch. My volunteers are brilliant but there are only ten of them and that is a big difference.”

Kittrick spent most of the week answering media calls and doing interviews about his former player James Hanson, who headed neighbours City into next month’s League Cup final. It was Kittrick who smoothed the deal that took the striker to Valley Parade.

Guiseley, Eccleshill United – who the Lions’ then manager Terry Dolan signed Hanson from – and the Co-op mini-mart at Idle have never had so much publicity as they have since Hanson’s goal at Villa Park booked the Bantams a Wembley appearance.