MACC DEPART IN SAD FINALE

A FRESH TAKE ON FOOTBALL

- Chris DUNLAVY

AN ELEVENTH hour relegation always stings, but August? Even in these unusual times, that takes the p***.

Maccesfield Town’s relegation to the National League – just 32 days before they were slated to kick-off in League Two – is a farce that did not need to happen.

The Silkmen were condemned to the drop on Tuesday when the EFL won their appeal against the decision of an independent disciplinary panel in June to suspend a four-point deduction for the non-payment of wages.

Macclesfield’s owner, Amar Alkadhi, failed to pay his players on several occasions during the 2019-20 season, leading to player strikes and missed fixtures that had already hacked 13 points from the club’s record.

Second from bottom when final standings were decided using points-per-game, Tuesday’s verdict saw Macclesfield drop to the foot of the table, reprieving Stevenage in the process.

Fans have accused the EFL of conducting a witchhunt, and it is easy to see their point. At the very least, chairman Rick Parry has questions to answer.

Why, for instance, did the EFL dock Macclesfield a total of 11 points for failing to fulfil two fixtures when Bolton Wanderers received a five-point suspended penalty for the exact same offence?

Why, too, did the EFL disregard the “considered opinion” of a previous disciplinary panel that Macc had suffered sufficient punishment for failing to pay wages and that another instance would not merit further sanction?