‘CHANGE VITAL AT SAD MACC'

Title-winner Askey’s fears for old club...

- John Lyons

MACCLESFIELD Town legend John Askey is praying new owners come forward to take over the club in the wake of their relegation to the National League.

After making a club record 679 appearances in almost two decades as a player at Moss Rose, Askey cemented his hero status by leading the Silkmen to a shock National League title triumph two years ago.

The 55-year-old stepped up to League One outfit Shrewsbury Town in the aftermath of that success and is now in charge of League Two Port Vale. However, he was watched in horror as Macclesfield’s fortunes have collapsed over the last couple of years.

Although Sol Campbell kept them up on the final day of the 2018-19 season, things went from bad to worse this time around. The club were hit with a string of points penalties for failing to pay wages on time and fulfil fixtures.

It looked as though they would survive, however, when a two-point deduction in June kept them above bottom-placed Stevenage on points per game. But there was further agony when the EFL appealed against the decision.

Punishment