Mansfield Town will vote to keep Chester City in the Football Conference - to boost their own play-off ambitions.

Chester have pleaded guilty to five rule breaches, including the failure to fulfil their last three fixtures.

Now fellow clubs will have their say on City's future at a meeting at Rushden's Nene Park tomorrow - where the Blues could be kicked out.

But the Stags stand to lose six points if Chester's record is expunged after 4-0 and 1-0 wins over them.

Club chairman Andy Perry (pictured) says Mansfield have no choice but to support the Blues because they will otherwise lose ground on their rivals who have not played and beaten them twice.

 Perry also hit out at the Conference, who he believes should be deciding Chester's fate for themselves.

"We will be voting to keep Chester City in - and that's purely for selfish reasons," he said.

"At this stage of the season, we can't afford to look at it from any other way. I do feel for the Chester fans and what they are going through because this club has had its own issues and the pain of going out of the Football League in the last few years.

"But we are trying to do the best for our club and I'm sure all the other clubs will be doing the same.

"They are not going to vote from a moral standpoint, but a practical one."

"This is a decision that should have been taken out of our hands. It should not be up to the member clubs to decide Chester's fate.

For Chester to be ousted, three-quarters of member clubs have to agree.

Each Conference Premier club gets a vote while Blue Square North and South clubs have eight votes between them.

Seven votes in favour of City - who are the target of a Danish consortium - would allow them to continue.

Mansfield are hoping to receive prompt payment on the money they are still owed by Northwich for Jonathan D'Laryea.

The Stags are owed £4,000 of wages the Vics agreed to pay while the midfielder was on loan in Cheshire, plus a percentage of his sell-on fee following his move to Eastwood Town.

Perry added: "They have been fined £2,500 and told they must pay by March 31 or face being docked points."