Football Season Guide

Macclesfield were the undisputed biggest overachievers in the league last season as the team tipped for relegation was part of the battle for promotion until the very end. They were even in the running for the league title until late March but suffered a collapse in the final month of the season and just missed out on a play-off slot. It made for an agonising end of a season that saw so much success for the most part and made all the fans of the club extremely proud. John Askey worked wonders in the dugout with his smart recruitment and excellent leadership in games, extracting the absolute maximum out of what was a rather average squad. But like many clubs struggling financially and doing well against the odds, the Silkmen’s side were bound to be broken up over the summer as the best players got snapped up by bigger sides. Rhys Taylor and Scott Barrow are two biggest losses of the summer as the pair enjoyed brilliant campaigns between the sticks and at left-back respectively, delivering standout showings week after week. Adriano Moke and Matthew Barnes-Homer are also not around anymore and will not be easy to replace either. On the other hand, experienced pros like Paul Turnbull, George Pilkington and Danny Whitaker are still around and will provide continuity and leadership. Jack Sampson and Theo Bailey-Jones are now permanent members of the squad after doing well in loan spells at the end of last season. Otherwise, Tony Diagne is a solid defensive addition and Neill Byrne could provide a good foil for Pilkington at the heart of defence. The main area of concern are the wings and the forward positions as there is not enough cover and quality there. But Askey is likely to utilise the loan market well and Macclesfield are in safe hands with him. That said, another play-off charge is highly unlikely and the Lancashire club are likely to spend most of the season safely in mid-table.