Macclesfield Town have been relegated to the National League after the EFL won an appeal against a points deduction.As a result of the appeal it means that Stevenage will now retain their Football League Two status.

Macclesfield had originally been given a suspended four-point sanction, which will now be applied immediately.

Town thought they were safe from relegation

The Silkmen appeared to have escaped relegation in June after the League Two campaign was ended early. At the time they were docked two points with four suspended for breaches of regulations relating to non-payment of wages.

This left them just a single point ahead of the Hertfordshire club in the table. The appeal decision now finds them three points behind their relegation rivals.

This season alone the Silkmen have been deducted an incredible 17 points over the course of the season.

Back in December 2019 a 10 point deduction was imposed with four suspended for non-payment of salaries. This also took into account the club’s decision for failing to fulfil a fixture against Crewe.

In March this was reduced to seven points with three suspended after the club appealed.  In May the club had a seven-point deduction against them for failing to play a match against Plymouth. Once again, the club failed to pay their players on time.

Back in June the two-point deduction is activated for a third breach, taking the season’s total deduction to 13 points.

Main shareholder steps down as chairman

Only a week ago majority shareholder Amar Alkadhi stepped down as chairman and plans to sell his stake in the club. No real surprise there as with most clubs when in trouble the chairman normally wants out.

This is yet another example of somebody trying to run a club without knowing how to.  This is happening far to often in the world of football now days.

The news today will bring joy to fans of Stevenage but for Macclesfield fans it will be a concern. What will happen to the club now as it enters life in the world of non-league football?

If it has been run this badly for a while, then will it be any different in the National League. The likelihood is the club will remain full time and hope to bounce back straight into the EFL at the first attempt.

For Silkmen fans don’t get to confident and excited because you never know who will be taking over your club. For the sake of football lets hope it is somebody with a sensible business brain and can understand how football really works.