Macclesfield Town expelled from the National League just days ahead of start of new season
MACCLESFIELD Town have been expelled from the National League following their winding-up by the High Court.
The Silkmen’s expulsion came 13 days after the Insolvency and Companies Court was told the club owed more than £500,000 in debts, and just four days before the National League season is due to get underway. Macclesfield were relegated from League Two after the EFL won an appeal to increase a points deduction handed to them, having been charged with misconduct related to the payment of player wages.
A statement from the National League said: “Further to the company owning Macclesfield Town Football Club (“The Club”) being the subject of a court winding-up order, the Board of The National League has passed a Resolution pursuant to its Articles of Association that a Notice of Expulsion be
served on the Club taking effect on Monday 12th October 2020. “The National League has served that Notice of Expulsion on the Official Receiver responsible for dealing with the Club’s affairs. “As the Club’s expulsion will be effective on Monday 12th October, in the meantime, the Club is suspended from The National League competition and its three fixtures during that period are postponed.
The matches affected are 3rd October (home v Bromley), 6th October (away v Boreham Wood) and 10th October (away v Aldershot).”
The club had been beset with off-the-field issues since returning to the EFL in 2018, and were the subject of a number of point deductions last season. Owner Amar Alkadhi had asked for a further eight-week adjournment upon the winding-up a fortnight ago in order for a sale of the club to go through.
Judge Sebastian Prentis made the winding-up order at the specialist Insolvency and Companies Court after being told £190,000 was owed in tax. Furthermore, a solicitor for former manager John Askey said he was owed £173,000, while a financial lender was also owed the same amount.
Players and staff were made redundant following the club’s appearance in the High Court, although fans have held talks over the formation of a phoenix club.