The highlights of the season came in the cup competitions. In the FA Cup, Chester won through to the Third Round, where they lost 2–0 at Division One promotion challengers Blackburn Rovers, having knocked out Football League opposition in both the First and Second Rounds. In the FA Trophy, Chester beat Doncaster, St Albans, Blyth Spartans and Southport to reach the semi-final. However, in two sub-par displays Chester lost 2–0 in both legs of the tie against lower division opposition, in the shape of Canvey Island. More off-season problems marred the summer of 2001. In May, Terry Smith sacked Paul Beesley, Carl Ruffer and Wayne Brown - the top three players in player of the year voting - and provoked what was described as a "playing squad united in open revolt" by attempting to arrange a post-season fitness training camp. Only a week after the sackings, Beesley, Ruffer and Brown were all reinstated ahead of a tribunal hearing over their alleged unfair dismissal; but the same day, the FA placed Chester under a transfer embargo for non-payment of the transfer fee for Tony Hemmings. At the start of June, club physio Joe Hinnigan was told he must re-apply for his job, and resigned. On 20 June, manager Graham Barrow was fired by Terry Smith in a phone conversation, and replaced by former Manchester United player Gordon Hill; in the meantime Paul Beesley was sacked for the second time in as many months. By the end of June, fans were picketing the Deva Stadium in order to force Smith's departure as Chairman. With this background, the 2001–02 season began under a cloud. Only 745 fans turned up to see Chester lose their opener 2–0 at home to Woking, and the eight league matches in September passed without any wins. However, at the start of October Smith sold his controlling stake in Chester City to former Barrow owner Stephen Vaughan. Only one match into Vaughan's ownership - a 3–0 defeat to Margate which left Chester bottom of the table - manager Gordon Hill was fired, to be replaced by caretaker manager Steve Mungall. However, Mungall himself lasted only 79 days, being fired after a Boxing Day defeat to Northwich Victoria once again left Chester bottom of the Conference. The next managerial appointment was to prove more long-lasting and successful, as Mark Wright took over the reins. Good form in the second half of the season under Wright both saw Chester reach the Sixth Round of the FA Trophy, and climb to 14th place in the final table and comfortably avoiding relegation to the Northern Premier League.