SOCCER: Lee Glover says the Silkmen are geared up for their FA Cup clash with Forest Green, in his weekly Macclesfield Express column...

First of all I'd like to apologise to the fans who travelled to Southend on a cold Friday night.

The performance was unacceptable and we need to improve massively.

Conceding an early goal gave us an uphill struggle but apart from a twenty-minute spell in the second half we were always second best.

I think that the appointment of a new manager was a relief to all the players and our caretaker boss.

Kevin Keen had soldiered on brilliantly but needed to know if he was going to get the job permanently, so he could make the necessary changes.

Keeno had worked as hard off the pitch as he does on it for the club and kept it all together. The whole club was in a type of 'limbo' with no one as a figurehead.

Hopefully now the situation has been addressed we can have some stability at the club. The 'gaffer' has already started to work with the lads on team shape, putting his influence and beliefs across.

It is a fresh start for everyone. It is important that we all pull together, in the same direction then I am sure we will turn the corner in the league.

This week's match gives us an opportunity to forget the league and play in the FA Cup.

I do not know much about Forest Green, although they have some ex-pros in their team and they will look at our league position and fancy causing an upset.

Positively though, it is about what we do. The lads would love a good run in the cup as this would breed confidence, which would help our league form.

There are a couple of small sides every year that go on a cup run and do well, hopefully that can be us.

Lastly there is always an upset in the cup, lets all pull together fans and staff, making sure it is not at Macc.