Relegation blow for Silkmen

12 Aug 2020 10:44
Published by: Scott Callan

Macclesfield Town’s nightmare season finally came to an end with relegation from the EFL months after their efforts on the pitch were halted as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

The Silkmen have been relegated to the National League after the EFL won an appeal against a points deduction.

The Moss Rose club had been given a suspended four-point sanction, but that has now been applied immediately, dropping Macclesfield to the foot of the League Two table.

The decision – which comes just a month before the start of the new season - means a reprieve for Stevenage, who will now retain their EFL status. The EFL said an independent panel’s decision was “final and binding”.

In a statement it said: “An independent Arbitration Panel has upheld the EFL’s appeal in respect of the outcome of an independent Disciplinary Commission who in June 2020 had considered misconduct charges brought against Macclesfield Town.

“The charges related to failing to pay a number of players on the applicable payment dates due in March 2020, failing to act with utmost good faith in respect of matters with the EFL and for breaching an order, requirement, direction or instruction of the League.”

The club has yet to give its views on the decision, which means it will be playing in the National League next season, but said it would be providing further comment “in due course”.

It looked in June that Macclesfield had escaped the drop when the Covid-19 pandemic ended the season early. They had been docked two points, with four suspended, leaving them one point above Stevenage.

The relegation ends a two-year stay in League Two for Macclesfield, after they were promoted from the National League in 2018. The following season was plagued with a series of points deductions for failing to pay players and the postponement of games.

 

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