Glad you’ve got my Macc

THANK you for all the feedback on the BBC documentary about Macclesfield FC and an extinct football club’s rise from the ashes.

In addition to 1.2million viewers when it went out on the air, more than 600,000 have watched it on the iPlayer and the messages I’ve received have been overwhelmingly supportive.

The programme was stitched together from more than 200 hours of filming, and I was very happy with the way normal people were portrayed going about their normal jobs to help restore a stricken football club to its community.

Lots of people enjoyed Jimbo sat on his tractor, when I asked him if I interfered with manager Danny Whitaker’s role too much, and he replied: “No, no, no... yes.”

Hopefully there will be a sequel showing how the season panned out – ideally with a promotion party as the credits roll.

I CAN’T remember another season where callers to Six-0-Six have demanded the sacking of so many Premier League managers before Christmas.

We’ve had Rafa out, Bruce out, Arteta out, Ole out, Nuno out, Farke out, Smith out... and in most cases, the fans have got their way.

Mikel Arteta (right) is one of the few who has lived to fight his corner at Arsenal, who are up to fifth despite taking no points from their first three games.

And if they leapfrog Liverpool into the top four tonight, we will have to take them seriously as contenders for a Champions League place.

HOW nice to be named by Paul Scholes – among the finest midfielders England has ever produced – as one of his three most difficult opponents.

To be bracketed with the great Patrick Vieira and the late Papa Bouba Diop is very flattering.

After John Terry’s famous assertion a few years ago, that I was not qualified to comment on his performances because I didn’t play at the very top level, it brought a wry smile to my face.

For technical excellence, I know I was not a Cruyff or a Platini – but evidently I did find ways to affect the game by closing down spaces and denying people time on the ball.

Next time Terry has a dig at my limited medals collection, I’ll happily refer him to Scholes’ comment.