Silkmen hang on by thread
THE 50 Macclesfield supporters who called for owner Amar Alkadhi to get out of their club were howling in the rain.
They gathered half-anhour before kick- of f, outside the main stand at the Moss Rose ahead of what appears to be the latest impending car crash in English football.
The majority shareholder didn’t hear them, of course. He’s holed up in Ibiza where he has been since the start of the season.
At least that’s what Macclesfield’s staff – whose patience must now be wafer-thin –believe. The truth is, he could be anywhere.
One place he certainly wasn’t – and hasn’t been all season – was t he home stadium in Cheshire.
The Silkmen have been charged with misconduct by the Football League over the non-payment of their players and referred to a disciplinary commission.
The commission could, in theory, level any punishment they see fit.
Macclesfield’s players only completed this 90 minutes against the Stags because the same body that is now seeking to inflict more pain upon them found a way to forward £30,000 to ensure the players and nd some of the staff ff were paid.
Unti l then, Mansfield had been left sweating g as to whether the he fixture would be fulf l filled. As it was, the hosts fielded a full-strength team and looked competent enough.
Last week though, it was different. The players went on strike and a youthful team was sent spinning out of the FA Cup by Kingstonian.
The idea was probably to hit the owner in the pocket, but no-one knows if that show of defiance hurt Mr Alkadhi.
Macclesfield manager Daryl Mcmahon (above) remained defiant after the final whistle.
He said: “It’s my job to motivate the team in any circumstances. You have good times, bad times on and off the pitch.
“The off-the-pitch stuff remains out of my control.
MACCLESFIELD MANSFIELD 2 ........ Shots on Target ......... 3 2 ........ Shots off Target ......... 2 9 ................Corners ................ 0 13 ................. Fouls .................... 7 2 ............... Offsides .................4 62.0 . Passing Success ... 62.7 342....... Total Passes ........ 394 47.3 ........Possession ........ 52.7 59.9 ..Territorial Adv % ... 40.1
Ih I have to focus on t he changing r room and work hard with them.
“The group h have been toge gether today – no question t about that. They have stuck together.
“As long as I’m here I’ll be fighting to win games of football and I’ll make sure the players are as well.”
However, the question of whether Mcmahon had received any assurances from the chairman was skirted around.
“The communication has been good,” was about as far as he got before Mcmahon was prevented from answering further.
Certainly there was a lack of any reassurance in the matchday programme and no mention in the manager’s notes of anything untoward.
The next deadline of any note is in two weeks’ time when the staff are due to be paid again.
Until then, English football holds its breath and prays that Macclesfield aren’t about to follow Bury into oblivion.