MACC Town star Gareth Evans is set to quit the Moss Rose.
Last season’s top scorer, one of just three out-of-contract Silkmen with new deals on the table, is on the verge of switching to League Two rivals Lincoln City.
The 21-year-old local boy, rescued from the footballing wilderness two years ago by then-boss Ian Brightwell, has scored 20 times in the last two campaigns.
Current Macc manager Keith Alexander was hoping to tie the former Crewe trainee down to a new two-year deal.
Tytherington-based Evans had stalled on signing the contract on offer, said to be substantially better than his previous terms.
But Macc’s limited resources, and an alarming reduction in matchday attendances last season, mean that other clubs’ spending power will often outmuscle the Silkmen in spending terms.
And the former Imps manager, who last month signed striker Ben Wright from the club he led to the League Two play-offs four years running, may now be resigned to losing his leading hitman.
The club will console themselves with a compensation pay-off for Evans, as he is under the age of 24, although a tribunal may be required to determine the amount payable.
The capture of Evans would mean a new-look attack for Lincoln boss Peter Jackson, who has also recruited Republic of Ireland Under-21 striker and Manchester United trainee Chris Fagan on a two-year deal.
Lincoln assistant manager Iffy Onuora said: "He’s a player we like and developments are ongoing."
Evans’ move would leave Alexander without the services of his most potent striker, although he has already moved to recruit FC United’s highly-rated hitman Kyle Wilson as well as Wright.
One familiar face from last season’s loan dealings, striker Emile Sinclair, is already signed up for this season on a one-year deal.
