TO THE FUTURE

Mirror man Savage sets heart on being a bloomin’ miracle worker at Moss Rose

ROBBIE SAVAGE is back – as head of football operations at born-again Macclesfield FC, saying: “I want to help a phoenix club rise from the ashes.”

The Silkmen were liquidated, aft er 146 years, l ast month following relegation from the Football League due to a points deduction for repeated failure to pay the players’ wages on time.

But when football businessman Rob Smethurst sealed a deal to buy the club’s assets, with £500,000 debts cleared, Mirror columnist Savage “couldn’t resist” joining the rescue act.

The former Wales international, who captained a record four clubs i n th e P remier r

League, will be joined on the board by ex-silkmen Supporters Trust chairman Jon Smart.

And following the e example of other born-again gain clubs such as AFC Wimbledon and Bury, Macclesfield will apply f o r re a d mi ssi o n to English football’s pyramid in the North West Counties League in the 2021-22 season.

Savage, who made a brief comeback at 45 playing for Stockport Town in the 10th tier last season, said: “As a father who brought his sons to watch games here, I was devastated to see what happened to Macclesfield.

“A club steeped in nearly 150 years of history is worth more to the local community than any amount of money can express.

“When Rob asked me to come

Savage is getting stuck in at grassroots level, by rescuing Macclesfield from the scrapheap on board and help to rejuvenate Macclesfield, I simply couldn’t resist the chance to help a phoenix club rise from the ashes.

“It’s only 21 years a go Mac cl e sf i el d were playing against Manchester City at the same level of the Football League.

“I’m not saying we are going to win the Premier League, but the aim is to take Macclesfield FC up through the divisions and restore pride among the loyal supporters.”

Savage runs an under-15 Pro Football Academy All-stars team on Sunday mornings i n Stockport as a volunteer coach, and he says the Macclesfield project has put him back in touch with his football roots.

He said: “I’m a football ma man, I love the game and like millions of others I started at grassroots level.

“In a perfect world, my under15 lads now will be Macclesfield FC’S stars of tomorrow.

“All the good-luck messages I’ve received have been very heartwarming – I don’t think I’ve ever been so popular on social media!

Just about the only negative comment was from one chap saying, ‘Congratulations, Robbie, on your new job on the board at Macclesfield. If this means you now stop talking s*** on BT Sport, it’s win-win!’

“That made me laugh.”

Savage’s appointment covers every level from first team down to under-16s.

Danny Whittaker – who made nearly 400 appearances for the Silkmen – will be manager.

Whittaker (left), who turns 40 next month, signed a new one-year contract with Macclesfield the day before the club was wound up in the High Court.

Savage said: “We are passionate about bringing football back to life in this town and making sure recent events which the fans endured will never be repeated.

“Our key focus will be to bring the football club, the fans and the community together.”

Smethurst plans to install a 4G pitch at Moss Rose (below), along with a gym and classrooms to enable the stadium to be used by the local community.