Guiseley manager Steve Kittrick does not quite know what to make of Blue Square Bet’s decision to pay out already on Chester FC winning the Conference North title.

Chester may be 19 points clear of the second-placed Lions but Kittrick’s men have four games in hand and will not give up the chase.

“Sometimes I find it laughable, sometimes I find it bizarre and sometimes I find it annoying – and I don’t think I am the only one,” said Kittrick, whose side host third-placed Brackley Town on Saturday.

“It is too early to make a pay-out decision. Chester still have Gainsborough to play, Harrogate Town away, Halifax Town away and ourselves away (April 13), so there is a lot of football still to be played.

“I also think that Chester wouldn’t have wanted this to happen either and that some managers might see it as disrespectful. I used it as part of my team talk against Vauxhall Motors – but we lost 2-0!”

Blue Square Bet spokesman Alan Alger said: “Of course, early pay-outs from bookmakers can sometimes backfire and we lay down the challenge to any other team in the division to force us to pay out twice.”

Kittrick hopes his side have had their blip for the season, even though their second place is not under threat at Nethermoor this weekend.

The Lions enjoy a seven-point cushion on visitors Brackley, with both clubs having played the same number of games. Instead of looking down, Kittrick’s sights are still trained on runaway leaders Chester.

The Lions boss said: “Last week’s game (against Worcester City) was a big one so this is no more significant or important just because it’s Brackley and they are closer to us in the table.

“Every game will be difficult from now all the way until the end of the season. The pressure starts to build and it’s all on Chester because they are top. We have to keep our nerve and keep putting points on the board.”

Guiseley’s win at Worcester snapped them out of a three-game winless streak. But that sequence was not as damaging as it could have been because the Lions drew two of those three matches and Chester also dropped points.

Kittrick has one player back from injury but another ruled out due to suspension. Yet he remains happy with his squad and the club’s position in the table.

He said: “Aaron Hardy (ankle) will be back in contention but Kevin Holsgrove (knee) might not make it until the week after. Wayne Brooksby is out for three games after his recent sending off.

“We are not far off, though, from having everybody available. That is what we need now we have got back to winning ways because there are a lot of games coming up and we have to regain our consistency.”

Prior to taking two points from a possible nine in the three games before the win at Worcester, the Lions enjoyed a run of eight league victories on the bounce, stretching back to late November when they were held to a 3-3 home draw by Worcester.