ROBBIE’S MACC FULL OF MAGIC

DANNY WHITAKER will need all his “Magic Man’ powers to get phoenix club Macclesfield FC back to the EFL.

When Macclesfield Town was wound up last September, immersed in debt and turmoil, then re-merged under the new ownership of local businessman Robert Smethurst and former Wales star Robbie Savage, their first port of call was to Silkmen legend Whitaker.

They wanted the man who had played more than 400 games for the club, and had spells as caretaker manager, to run the playing side in football’s ninth tier, the North West Counties

League Premier Division, working under director of football Savage (above).

“After a chat with Rob and Robbie I agreed,” Whitaker explained.

“Now of course the demands in some ways are greater – they expect promotion this season.

“It’s gone full circle from being a small club not expected to do anything, to now being the big fish in the pond, expected to get promoted.”

Whitaker added: “Robbie’s brilliant. I think a lot of people have a misconception of him. From day one I’ve found him good to get on with.

“He’s hard-working. and at the club most days. He

is demanding because he has given us the tools to succeed. Fair enough.”

It’s a far cry from the past few seasons when even ‘The Magic Man’ – given that moniker by adoring Macc fans – couldn’t save the old club from oblivion.

Whitaker’s last Macc contract as a player only lasted a few days.

He recalled: “Tim Flowers had taken over as manager, and he thought I could still do a job – so I got myself fit and played in a friendly.

“I went home delighted but the next day I got a message about the club being wound up.”

Just a few weeks later Macclesfield FC appeared to carry the dream forward – now that’s magic!