PAY DISPUTE ROCKS MACC
Players miss their wages
MACCLESFIELD TOWN say January’s late wages will be paid tomorrow – but there are fears over the Silkmen’s long-term future.
Players and staff released a statement on Thursday evening revealing they hadn’t been paid and hadn’t been notified by the club as to why. Ahead of the weekend where they had no game, Macc were top of the National League.
The statement read: “As a team, we would like to make people aware that we have not been paid our January wages.
“Whilst this is alarming, what disappoints us most is that we were not notified by the owner or the chairman of the situation and have not been contacted since. All despite numerous attempts for clarity from the players and management.
Ambition
“It has been well publicised that we have one of, if not the smallest budgets in the division and yet despite this, we are top of the National League.
“Throughout this season the team, management and staff have always and will always be 100 per cent committed to the hard work and endeavour of promotion to the Football League.”
As late as Friday afternoon the players and staff were still unclear when they would get their January wages. It’s the first time this season their wages haven’t been paid on time, but it’s the lack of communication that has caused most upset.
Although chairman Mark Blower was at Friday’s meeting, The NLP understands it’s the first time boss John Askey or the players had spoken to him in around eight weeks.
It is understood Blower has been present at games, but hasn’t made himself available to the squad. Patience among the Silkmen support with Iraqi Kurd owners Amar and Bashar al Khadi has also been wearing thin with their side pushing for a Football League return despite their small National League budget.
Askey, a club legend from his playing days, has seemingly worked miracles since taking over in 2013 and has assembled a squad of promotion hopefuls despite seeing an exodus of experienced players over the summer.
That came on top of selling Danny Rowe to Ipswich, Paul Lewis to Cambridge and Jack Mackreth, now at Wrexham, to Bury as well as a run to the second round proper of the FA Cup and a live TV game with Oxford United, which they took to a replay. They also reached last season’s FA Trophy final at Wembley, where they lost 2-1 to York City.
A player fund was set up to help Askey draft in players this month and raised over £21,000, allowing the signatures of Nathan Blissett, Callum Evans and Adam Dugdale to help with their push at the top of the table.
Donations have been made on the basis that contributors will have their pledge refunded plus the same amount again should they achieve promotion. In a statement, the club said: “Following the delayed receipt of budgeted monies from an overseas source, the football club will be in a position to pay wages on Monday. We apologise to all affected.”