‘No need for Macc to go under’ says legend ‘Sir John’

MACCLESFIELD Town legend John Askey says he is so sad for the supporters and wider community after the football club was wound up this week.

Askey is known as ‘Sir John’ in the town after a remarkable career at the football club spanning more than 30 years as player, coach and manager.

He left the club in 2018 having managed them to promotion to the Football League, and winning the 2017/18 National League title despite having one of the lowest budgets in the division.

Macclesfield were wound up with debts of more £500,000 at a hearing on Wednesday.

Port Vale boss Askey says his thoughts are with Macc fans who have seen their club wound up following a difficult period under the ownership of Amar Alkhadhi.

He wants the EFL to take more responsibility for control over club owners.

He said: “I had 30 years there and had good times. There are 130-odd years of history. Even though the club has been non-league for the majority of the time, they have always had decent teams.

“It is sad and I just feel for supporters. I think for any of those clubs, like Bury, it is the supporters. They can’t go with their grandparents, parents and friends. It is a big part of their life.

“There was no need for Macclesfield to go under. It is a big part of the community, it is where people meet, there is a lot of history.”

Askey had been owed money by the club for more than two years, reportedly more than £170,000.

But it was HM Revenue and Customs that applied for the winding up order.

Judge Sebastian Prentis made a winding up order at a virtual hearing in the specialist Insolvency and Companies Court on Wednesday. The judge said he could see nothing which gave him ‘any comfort”’that the club can pay the debts.

He was overseeing the latest in a series of hearings.