Efe Sodje will not be kept on as John Askey’s right-hand man.

The Nigerian, who returned to the Moss Rose just a year ago, has been told the budget won’t allow for Askey to have an assistant manager.

“I’m waiting to find out exactly what we can do when I get back,” said Askey, currently on a family holiday.

“I’m waiting to speak to someone and see if we can try to do something, but from my point of view we need to keep things as they are.

“We work well together and I don’t want to change that but if the money isn’t there I don’t know what we’ll do.”

 

The 41-year-old – who scored the club’s first goal in the Football League in 1997 – returned as Askey’s assistant in last year’s summer of discontent, when the Silkmen were on the verge of financial disaster and administration.

As well as his playing brief and coaching duties Sodje, who embodies the ‘Against All Odds’ mantra, has been an irresistible force away from the field, mucking in where needed to beg, steal and borrow from all quarters to help the club through this year’s dark days.

But it seems Efe’s efforts won’t be rewarded with a deal, despite Askey agreeing a rolling contract with controlling shareholder Amar Alkadhi.

“He’s definitely a major asset to Macclesfield Town,” added the manager. “It’s such a tough one, I’d have thought that, from a financial point of view he’s well worth keeping on.

“Efe does attract people to the football club, I want to find a way for him to keep his job.

“At the moment I’m told we don’t have the money so I hope we can generate it and keep Efe.”