NLP says...

Silkmen and Boro deserve rapid decision

AFTER all the uncertainty over the last few months, we should have known better than to assume Stevenage’s return to NonLeague was a given. Boro’s fate looked to have been sealed two weeks ago when an independent disciplinary commission deducted relegation rivals Macclesfield two points for failing to pay wages on time in March.

It was the latest in a series of punishments to hit the cash-strapped Silkmen in the 2019-20 campaign. In total, they were docked 13 points for a variety of misdemeanours, though, crucially, they remained a fraction above Stevenage in the standings.

A deduction of three points or more would have sent the Silkmen down.

However, the EFL have refused to take the decision lying down and stated on Friday that they would appeal against the sanctions imposed on the Silkmen, which also included a £20,000 fine and a four-point suspended penalty which could be applied next season if the club fail to pay their players on time.

It adds fuel to the fire for those who believe the EFL are determined to get shot of the troublesome Silkmen.

That was something the Macc players alluded to in a statement last month after the controversial way in which their points-per-game tally was worked out.

There will be those who believe the EFL are trying to palm Macclesfield off on to the National League, frustrated by the way owner Amar Alkadhi is running the club.

The EFL would no doubt say that they are simply trying to enforce their rules and regulations and that having strict punishments will deter other clubs from going down Macclesfield’s path.

Perhaps, though, it’s time for the EFL to look again at those rules and regulations. If they were stronger in the first place, we may not have ended up with all this end of season drama.

You have to feel sorry for the players and fans of Macclesfield, who have been through a tortuous year. To have their future up in the air again must be very unsettling for all concerned.

Likewise, you can understand why there must also be frustration on Stevenage’s side.

On the field they had an awful season, but, off it, they did things in the right manner in comparison with Macclesfield, who, some will argue, gained an unfair advantage by some of their indiscretions.

One thing is sure. The appeal needs to be resolved as quickly as possible so everyone knows where they stand once and for all. That’s only fair to both clubs involved.