MACC Town have missed out on the chance to keep Jack Mackreth at the Moss Rose, after the winger signed a one-year deal at divisional rivals Grimsby Town.

The former Tranmere Rovers man joined the Silkmen from Barrow, initially on a one-year deal, but stayed for a second season once John Askey had taken the reins last summer.

Mackreth, 22, came close to making 100 appearances and scoring seven goals in a Macc shirt and Askey revealed to the Express last week that he was one of a glut of players in last term’s squad who were keen to return.

But despite turning down a move to Blundell Park on more than one occasion in recent years Mackreth has made the switch, signing a 12-month deal for the Mariners, who’ve finished fourth in the last two Conference Premier seasons but failed to return to the Football League via the play-offs.

“I have been tempted a few times and come close to signing,” admitted the Welsh semi-pro player. “But last-minute phone calls have made me change my mind and it hasn’t quite happened.

“I made the mistake of thinking that, as Macclesfield had come down from League Two, we’d go straight back up.”