KEITH Alexander insists that the task he has been handed is far from a Mission: Impossible.

The popular and experienced Alexander, who took over from sacked boss Ian Brightwell on Wednesday, insists that Macc are in a predicament but that all hope will not be abandoned.

Alexander holds a vast knowledge of lower league football and says that he sees the potential for a successful push up the table in his newly-inherited squad.

"My first impressions of the squad are that they can all play" he said. "But sometimes you’ve got to forsake good football for winning football matches.

"People get the sack because they don’t win games. My aim first and foremost is to produce a winning side and then we’ll think about how we’re going to entertain. It’s a results business."

Typical of a man who, four years ago, overcame a cerebral aneurysm that required emergency surgery, he refuses to accept that failure is inevitable.

"It’s a big task ahead," he admitted. "We’ve played a few games more than everybody else down there. But we’ve still got games to go against teams at the bottom. You don’t get jobs when teams are doing well, it’s a fact of life in the football industry, unless you’re very lucky.

"Normally you come in when a team is struggling, for whatever reason."

The 51-year-old’s wealth of experience stretches back to his first appointment, when he became British football’s first black manager, taking over at Lincoln City in 1993.

After impressing in roles at Ilkeston Town and Northwich Victoria, Alexander returned to Sincil Bank as assistant to his former boss, Alan Buckley.

Taking over the hot seat in 2002, he displayed an eye for unearthing unknown or inexperienced talent on a shoestring budget as he led the Imps to four successive play-off appearances, although each one ended in disappointment.

He left Lincoln and took over at Peterborough United in May 2006, leaving London Road the following January, with the Posh sitting in eighth spot.

Alexander became Bury’s director of football last summer but was sacked in January alongside Shakers manager Chris Casper.

He told the Express he is delighted to be back in the day-to-day running of a football team after a spell as a radio commentator and coach to students, adding: "I’ve been out of work for six weeks and I'm delighted to be back in work so quickly."

Alexander took over shortly before the Silkmen’s draw at home to Notts County - their 14th deadlock of the season - and said that his direct style of play may be less easy on the eye but could be the key to League Two survival.

"A lot has been said of my style of football," he admitted. "Some say it is too direct. But I don’t care about that, I want to play winning football.

"If you’re winning then, believe me, you are playing good football."