Macc ‘on cliff edge’ in wait for EFL ruling
MACCLESFIELD Town are ‘ on a cliff edge’ as they wait to find out if another points deduction will relegate them from the Football League into huge financial uncertainty.
It is understood an independent disciplinary committee met yet again on Friday, June 12, to decide whether to hit the Silkmen with a further penalty - with the result still nervously awaited.
MP David Rutley has joined the pleas for mercy to be shown as a deduction could relegate the club from League Two and out of the English Football League (EFL).
He has also echoed the calls for owner Amar Alkadhi to step aside so the Silkmen can move forward and put the days of struggling to pay players behind them.
The league ended early because of Covid-19 with final standings worked out on a points-per-game basis.
So any deduction, and there have already been two, is now effectively a double punishment. Although the points-pergame formula is not straightforward, it is thought anything more than three lost will seal the Silkmen’s relegation fate.
Mr Rutley said: “It is vital that the spirit of fair play and sporting integrity is respected off the pitch, just as it is expected on the pitch, particularly in such challenging circumstances.
”I would strongly urge the EFL and the independent inquiry to be proportionate and fairminded when considering any further action in relation to Macclesfield Town.
”They will rightly ask if lessons have been learned, the clear answer is things must change. It is time for a fresh start with a new chairman, the owner will need to take a back seat.
”It is time to walk back from the cliff edge, and for cool heads and warm hearts, and the spirit of fair play, to prevail.”
Town have regularly faced EFL disciplinary action this season over late payment of players and failing to fulfil fixtures.
The latest misconduct charge was brought earlier this month for, among other things, failing to pay players on time again.
Members of the Silkmen Supporters Trust, who say Mr Rutley has given a lot of behind the scenes help, think the latest points deduction decision has potentially huge consequences.
Particularly with the football landscape significantly altered by the coronavirus pandemic. Should the club retain EFL status then it will secure income from solidarity payments and have greater opportunity to earn money from streaming games in lieu of having crowds attend. It is also understood that Joe Sealey remains interested in buying the club.
But the businessman has gone on record as saying he would only be interested should EFL status be retained at the Moss Rose.
Andy Worth, from the Silkmen Supporters Trust, said: “It is on a knife edge. The issue with points per game as it feels like we are being given another deduction.
”Like we are being punished for being punished, is that reasonable?”
The effective double punishment is because the Silkmen have been deducted 11 points this season and then points per game is worked out on this new total rather than what was earned in the first place.
The EFL confirmed this week that clubs had voted ‘by an overwhelming majority’ to end the 201920 season at an extraordinary general meeting.
Final league placings have been set in stone with the exception of who will finish bottom of League Two and be relegated to the National League ‘due to ongoing disciplinary matters’.
EFL chair Rick Parry said: “The board has endeavoured to listen to all views and alternative approaches but understands that the decisions taken will not be met with universal satisfaction.”
*See Macclesfield Express sport for Macc defender David Fitzpatrick’s claims that the EFL is ‘trying its best’ to throw the Silkmen out of the league.