Gary Simpson may have left Macclesfield Town for the final time but he admits he leaves a piece of himself at the Moss Rose.

Simpson spent little more than two years as Macc manager and, after taking over in tragic circumstances following his friend Keith Alexander’s passing, he endured some harrowing times on and off the field.

And it’s these times that ensure his unique place in the Silkmen’s history and why he leaves with the unfaltering respect of all those remaining at Macc.

Not that the sentiment is all one-way, as he concedes that the club will forever be a part of him.

"At the end of the day I wish everybody well," said the 52-year-old. "This club means a lot to me, it’s in my soul. I did as much as I could, I couldn’t have done any more.

"I just hope that me falling on my sword will inspire them and help them to reach safety.

"I don’t think for a minute that the chairman or vice-chairman wanted to do it, it was the only lever left to pull.

"The chairman rang me at about 12 o’clock on Sunday and he arranged to meet me, he drove over to Sheffield because he wanted to speak to me face-to-face, which I appreciated. They’ve been terrific with me and the supporters have been fantastic too.

"We did speak about an offer but it wasn’t right for me to stay. I’ve spoken to the players and told them I’m disappointed but they have to get on with the job of getting the points required to stay in the division.

"I’m just sorry I couldn’t do anything to get us the points needed, we’ve worked our socks off."

In March 2009 the club was ripped apart by the tragic loss of the man he still refers to as ‘The Gaffer’ and it was Simpson who shouldered the responsibility of continuing Alexander’s work and steered the ailing ship to safety.

Ten months later came an even bigger shock, when the squad lost one of their own, midfielder Richard Butcher. Losing a virtual son would surely have made lesser men buckle but Simpson once again stayed strong and led Macc to their highest finish since the play-off appearance of 2005 and signed a new two-year deal to stay on.

In fact, Simpson leaves behind a cut-price squad brimming with ability and this despite recouping heady figures from the sales of players who got their careers on track under his stewardship.

He’s had a rough ride since the turn of the year. Macc have struggled to cope with seemingly endless streams of injuries, harshly brandished red cards and just good old-fashioned rotten luck.

Simpson plans to take more coaching badges in Ireland in the summer and, if and when he returns to football, somebody will surely take on one of the most genuine, hard-working and diligent managers around.

He deserves it.