Football Season Guide

Macclesfield impressed many people last season with their exploits, despite the difficult financial situation at the club and the very small squad that John Askey has to operate with. However, things are looking even bleaker in the coming campaign as the Silkmen continue to find it very hard to keep a squad intact and have very few players on the books just a week before the start of the season. Askey has shown real commitment to the cause and will try his best to keep the team afloat once again but his hands are pretty much tied and it will be a real challenge for him in the next 12 months. The likes of Danny Andrew, Scott Boden, Jack Mackreth and Scott Kay have all left over the summer after impressive campaigns last year and have not been replaced at all. The success for Macclesfield so far has been the fact that at least good players like Danny Whitaker, Rhys Taylor and Chris Holroyd are still in the team. Yet, the funds are just not there to sign a few more quality players to complement the starting 11. Instead, Askey has to search for any players from the lower league which are eager for a chance to showcase their quality at the top end of non-league football. This is a difficult task and Macclesfield will definitely be through some struggle in the coming season. They look like the most likely relegation candidate at the moment and will need to rely on the strong team spirit and the management ability of Askey as their assets in this arduous battle.