Silkmen reveal first signing... it’s Danny Whitaker!
Macc’s magic man pulls on his boots again, prompting backroom team reconstruction
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MACCLESFIELD FC have made their first player signing – manager Danny Whitaker!
Fans’ favourite Whitaker was a popular choice when he was appointed boss of the phoenix club by new owner Rob Smethurst in October last year.
And after encouragement from the club’s Director of Football, Robbie Savage, 40-yearold Whits has decided to combine managerial duties with an on-field Silkmen swansong.
The move prompted a reorganisation of the backroom team at the club, with the highlyexperienced Peter Band coming in as assistant manager.
“It’s very exciting news from a personal perspective and for the club as a whole - I’ll be putting my boots back on as player/ manager, which is fantastic for me,” said Whitaker.
“Obviously, everyone knows I love the club and I love playing football, you can’t beat it! When I retired from playing it was forced upon me to a certain degree if I wanted to stay at the club and then I did pull my boots on for this season and was ready for that, I did a full preseason and was raring to go and then obviously the circumstances at the club changed.
“You can’t beat being on the pitch as a footballer, everyone who has played professionally will tell you that – you can’t beat it, you’ll never beat it. To get that back, whether it’s for a season or a game here and there, and hopefully help the team as a whole and help the players, is going to be fantastic.
“Once you have been in that environment, in that situation, you can take loads of confidence from how you handled it back then and moving forwards, as long as you have the right people around you and you plan right and put the hard work in, you will reap the rewards.”
Director of Football Savage believes the appointment of Band will be crucial in Macc finding their feet and flourishing in whatever league they begin their footballing journey.
“There has been a reconstruction and we’ve decided to bring in Peter Band, a man of great experience at the levels we’re going to be going in at, over 800 games as a player and managed Mossley and Glossop North End,” said Savage.
“It means that Anthony Curran will be out first team coach. His experience and his capability in getting the best out of players is there for all to see. So I’m delighted with the reconstruction which has come about because Danny has decided, after lots of talks from myself, to continue with his playing career as well as managing the first team.
“I’m absolutely delighted with Danny as player/manager, Peter Band assistant and Anthony Curran firstteam coach.
“I think we need someone on the touchline with a wealth of experience in the levels we’re going to be playing at. Peter has managed at the levels we’re going in at, he knows when we go away where the surfaces aren’t as good and sometimes you have to turn teams, you can’t play the beautiful football at times.
“His knowledge of the level was so important to me as was his character, passion and enthusiasm to support Danny when he’s on the pitch.
“When Danny’s on the pitch I want him to be a player – not thinking about changes, not thinking about managing.
‘When Danny’s on the pitch I want him to be a player – not thinking about changes, not thinking about managing’
Bandy will allow Danny to do that with the support from Ant Curran. Those two on the touchline will allow Danny to be a player first and foremost on a matchday.”
Band will be desperate to do well for the club he has supported since childhood.
“The thing that stood out for me was, myself and Rob (Smethurst) were walking around the ground, seeing what we’ve done and how great a journey we’re going to go on, and there was a clip of Peter Band, standing in the tunnel with his Macc gear on and the passion shone through. He cares about this football club, he wants to do well and we need good people around us and he’s certainly one of the best.
“He has an aura about him and at times he’ll know what’s needed in certain games, at certain times, because he’s been there and done that. My knowledge of the pyramid system isn’t great, Danny’s – the lower we go – isn’t and Ant has been at Juve.
“I think this is what was missing, this is the missing piece of the jigsaw, Peter Band with his wealth of experience is going to offer us an insight into what it’s going to take to get up the levels.
“I’m delighted with the structure, the three can work in cohesion with each other and form and create a fantastic side that the fans are going to be proud of.
“Danny will play and in the week his relationship with assistant manager Bandy will be key – those two speak to each other all the time already about players. We have a Whatsapp group looking at players. We have players coming in over the next couple of weeks looking at the facilities. Ant’s coaching skills, which I’ve seen first-hand, are absolutely brilliant. I cannot be happier with the team I have formed and the team Rob has allowed me to form.
“Now that the backroom staff is in place, we’ve got to get a model on the pitch the fans are going to be proud of.
“There’s so much to be excited about. The names we’ve got of players on our list - hopefully players will drop down to go on the journey with us. I’m proud, Macclesfield FC fans are going to be proud and I could see how proud Peter Band was to stand on the terraces and to now be assistant at a club he loves is just pure passion.”