Macclesfield have without a doubt been the Vanarama Conference’s surprise package so far this season.
John Askey’s men have put on some swashbuckling football, ground out results when things haven’t gone completely to plan and shown an apparent invincibility on home ground.
They’re sitting pretty in the play-off mix - occupying second place, seven points behind Barnet - as the festive season draws ever nearer. Danny Whitaker hit the only goal of Wednesday night's tough assignment at Aldershot to make the table a delightful read for the Moss Rose faithful.
Against All Odds. The three words sum up just what the Silkmen are all about - cash-strapped yet resolutely determined. And successful so far.
And now, as it’s the time for miracles, manager John Askey is hoping he’ll be pleasantly surprised by what the new year brings him and his cut-price charges.
“There’s been no investment, despite what people think, just because we’ve brought in Barnesy (Matthew Barnes-Homer) and Denny (Johnstone),” he told the Express ahead of their victory at Aldershot. “I think it’s a miracle how well we’re doing, and it’s all down to the players. I’d hate to see it all fall apart now, everybody wants to stick together and I want to try to build something – but we need some input from the powers that be.”
Macclesfield Town owner Amar Alkadhi told supporters at an off-season fans’ forum that he would be prepared to invest in the club if there was a threat of relegation or of missing out on the play-offs. The second of those eventualities was dismissed as wildly optimistic by all quarters at the time, and even as the campaign got going.
But with a brand of entertaining football Askey and Efe Sodje have taken the club almost to the summit in the Conference.
And it’s time for Amar to make good on his vow.
If the management aren’t given the investment needed to keep this squad together then all of their hard work this term could, and most probably would, go to waste – a crying shame given the situation the Silkmen find themselves in ahead of the turn of the year.
Askey has recruited well with a youthful, vibrant squad of players, but he’s heavily reliant on non-contract bargains, loan men and those playing for peanuts – or less.
Macc’s feelgood factor is sky high. But the cash flow is through the floor. And it’s clear that the club can’t survive, let alone thrive, without essential input from its owner.
Some may argue that the word ‘investment’ is misused in the case of football, since there’s rarely a return to be drawn from putting money into a club.
But if the top brass want Football League action back at the Moss Rose then it’s time for the chequebook to be dusted off and handed to the man who can make it happen.
Few, if any, would argue that ‘Sir John’ deserves it.
