MACC LURE TOO MUCH FOR CLEGG
MICHAEL CLEGG says the Macclesfield manager’s job is too big to turn down.
The 40-year-old has left the Silkmen’s NPL Premier promotion rivals Warrington Rylands to take up the vacancy left by Alex Bruce’s surprise departure for a coaching role at League Two Salford City.
Bruce took charge of Macc in October after Mark Duffy was axed and had guided the ambitious Step 3 outfit into the Isuzu FA Trophy quarter-finals as well as fifth place in the table, with games in hand.
Clegg leaves Rylands third and while he admits the timing isn’t great, the former Atherton Collieries and Ashton United boss believes it’s a job he just had to take.
“It’s not good timing for anyone,” Clegg told The NLP. “It’s not a good time for them losing Alex, it’s not a good time for Rylands losing me.
“Listen, I’ve hit an age now where my stats and where I’ve been probably show I deserve a chance at a bigger club. I just had to go at this stage of my career, it was kind of now or never.
“I know it comes with risks. I was in a comfy, safe place at Rylands but I am at a stage of my life, my career, where I need to go for the next challenge.
Infrastructure
“It was really difficult to leave Rylands. We’ve created a bond between players, staff, committee and fans which is better than probably anywhere I’ve been.
“This is just too big for me to turn down. It’s one of the biggest clubs in Non-League. It’s a club two games from Wembley, a club – if we win the games in hand – that will go second in the league, with an infrastructure to build and really give myself the best chance to achieve what I think I can achieve.
“I’ve got to do it otherwise, if I didn’t, I would be kind of writing myself off to just stay playing it safe. I am ready for that next step. I’ve probably never been more ready.”
Since starting again as a new club – Macclesfield Town went out of business in 2020 – at Step 5 in 2021-22 under the ownership of Robert Smethurst and director of football Robbie Savage, their intent to climb the ladder quickly has been clear with backto-back promotions.
And Clegg knows the remit as they chase a third on the spin.
“I’ve not come in here and been told I’ve got all the time in the world to do what they want to do,” Clegg said. “We’ve got some strict guidelines we need to stick to, a way of playing football the fans want to see.
“I am not going to come in here and have it all my own way, I am going to have to deliver from day one. I am under no illusions about that. But I am ready for it.
Network
“If for any reason it doesn’t work, it won’t be for the lack of enthusiasm or lack of work behind the scenes. We’re ready to go.” Clegg enjoyed huge success at Atherton Collieries and recently saw Rylands’ striker Adama
Sidibeh move to SPL side St Johnstone.
And he says Macc will give him the pulling power to make the most of his contacts.
“My network and my playing pool is massive but what I find myself doing a lot each year is recommending players to other people with bigger budgets because they want to tap into my knowledge,” Clegg said. “Now I obviously get the opportunity to get some of those players for myself. I think people will see a true reflection of who I am over the next 18 months and the type of players I can attract.
“Ultimately right now, our focus is on the next game, trying to get to Wembley, going up through the play-offs – we do believe the league is out of reach – but that’s where we’re at.
“It’s about pulling everything together now and, obviously, you’re going to have to walk the walk aren’t you?”