Statement by David Rutley, MP for Macclesfield, following the EFL's decision not to reprieve the relegation of Macclesfield Town:
"Like all Silkmen fans, I am bitterly disappointed by the EFL’s decision not to reprieve the relegation of Macclesfield Town by invoking a regulation that would have halted the Club’s move to non-league football.
On behalf of the community, I would like to thank Mark Blower, the staff at the Club and, of course, the Silkmen Supporters’ Trust for all their hard work and dedication in making the case for Macclesfield Town to remain in League Two. I am very sorry that the EFL did not listen to their case.
Over recent weeks and months, I have spoken to EFL representatives and written to both Mr Rick Parry, Chairman of the EFL, and Mr David Baldwin, Chief Executive, to strongly support the Club’s case. I asked the EFL to be fair-minded and proportionate when considering any further action in relation to Macclesfield Town. The Club was rightly punished for its actions off the pitch last the season, but with a deduction of around 20 points based on the points per game calculation, when administration only leads to a 12 points being subtracted, it’s hard not to feel that the Club has been disproportionately targeted for the mistakes it made.
Following Monday’s sad news, it’s clear that a fresh start is needed at Macclesfield Town. The Club’s owner needs to urgently work with interested parties to establish a truly sustainable future that our loyal fans and local residents expect and deserve. We need to get back to the tradition of being able to punch above our weight on the pitch without off the pitch distractions, and the community needs to be at the heart of future plans. I will continue to do all that I can to assist in this important task. But action needs to be taken quickly - the clock is ticking."