Macclefield or Stevenage, which one goes?

[Son of Cod]

A letter to the Chief Executive Officer of the English Football League
SST Secretary
c/o 3 Lincoln Place
Macclesfield

Cheshire

SK10 3EW

Mr David Baldwin
Chief Executive Officer
English Football League
EFL House
10-12 West Cliff
Preston
PR1 8HU

Dear Mr Baldwin

Macclesfield Town Football Club (MTFC) are a small town football club within a hotbed of Premiership clubs in the North West, and one with a proud heritagedating back to 1874. The "against all odds" mentality that pervades our club has seen MTFC achieve promotion to the English Football League (EFL) on two occasions, and on much smaller budgets than many of its peers.

It is further use to note that in this day and age where there is a great concern about the lack of Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) coaches and managers in English football within the game, Macclesfield has appointed 3 BAME managers and a number of BAME coaches during their tenure in the ELF.

Please be assured that the overwhelming majority of Macclesfield Town Football Club (MTFC) Silkmen fans including the Silkmen Supporters Trust (SST) board, would be the first to admit that the stewardship of our beloved club by majority shareholder Mr. AlKadhi has been heartbreakingly horrendous. Silkmen fans everywhere despise his mismanagement of the club and in addition to his contemptuous attitude towards the club’s playing and non-playing staff and of course our long suffering supporters. It is our view that the actions of Mr. AlKhadi have clearly angered the English Football League (EFL), and as a result of his actions MTFC have been rightly docked points for this mismanagement., The recent re-involvement of former Silkmen chairman Mark Blower who played a major role in MTFC's defence at the recent independent panel hearing, had subsequently pointed to a more secure future for our beloved club both on and off the field with an inspiration of a fully operational board dedicated to effective governance of MTFC going forward.

The SST would like to place on record our frustration by the EFL's apparent inability and unwillingness to deal with the actions of appalling owners which have been manifest this season with the cases of Bury and now sadly Wigan. The SST have appealed for help on behalf of the fans, players and community, and have found the EFL to be unsympathetic and largely unresp;onsive. The lack of action on the appeals relating to staff mental healthhave been particularly galling..

The last disciplinary hearing held by an Independent Panel against MTFC made their decision after considering all the evidence and this should be respected. It must be pointed out that the decision was made considering the flawed way points per game (PPG) was calculated. MTFC were in effect deducted 16 points not 13, as recommended by the panel. A comparable analogy to this is a criminal sentenced to 18 months in prison who on arrival at the point of incarceration is told "forget what your sentence is, it is now 2 years" without rhythm nor reason. This is against English Law and legal advice appears to be on the side of MTFC.

It is our view that the EFL are inconsistent to say the least. Stevenage avoided a points deduction following an independent panel's decision, regarding a postponement of a fixture against Oldham Athletic where it was cited that three Stevenage players were identified for international call ups when only two were alleged to be eligible to be counted. Where was the EFL appeal? Southend another serial offender of paying wages late received a suspended point deduction. Again, where was the EFL appeal? These follow the imposition of no points reduction to Bolton Wanderers for missing two games.

The last two weeks have seen a publicity orchestrated campaign by members of the EFL to get Macclesfield demoted, an action the EFL well knows would obliterate the club. The prime orchestrator has been Mr. Philip Wallace of Stevenage, along with others including Mr. Philip Day of Grimsby. We believe that it is disgraceful, that the EFL board representative for League Two, Mr. John Nixon who sits at the high table of the EFL hierarchy, and who should surely provide an unbiased approach to all League 2 clubs; highlighted on social media that such was his indignation at the recent independent panel's decision regarding MTFC, that he was considering resigning from his aforementioned role. Is this the way the EFL conducts its business? The SST has seen no evidence of him demonstrating denial of his apparent ire since this time. The self-righteous indignation from Mr. Nixon was palpably silent following the decision on Stevenage, not to mention inrespect of the PPG calculation that effectively saw the SIlkmen receive a further three point eduction.

It is of further use to note that on the 6th March 2020 Carlisle’s Chief Executive Nigel Clibbens spoke of how "on discussions and deliberations of [Macclesfield], penalties etc, [Mr. Nixon] does not participate, except to simply collect League Two views and pass them to the EFL." The above statement from the Cumbrians Chief Executive appears to have fallen on deaf ears to Mr. Nixon, and the SST would politely request that the EFL provide us with an outline of Mr. Nixon’s role as the League 2 representative, and your explanations to how his recent actions can in any way be seen as reasonable and unbiased.

The decision of the EFL to appeal against the independent decision now appears to be a witch hunt towards MTFC. Stevenage only managed to win three games in the 2019/20 season and were clearly the worst performing team in the division and deserved relegation. The independent panel made its decision and, as in the cases highlighted above, that decision should be accepted by the EFL

In order to understand what is happening could the EFL please answer the following questions:

What date is the appeal to take place on?
On what grounds are the EFL appealing? Has any undisclosed evidence come to light?
Has the EFL been pressureised into the appeal by the owners of other League 2 clubs If so, by how many and who?
Why has the EFL only appealed the MTFC decision?
Does the EFL want to remove MTFC from League 2 because of the mismanagement of its owner?
It is clear that the PPG has been rigged to remove MTFC from League 2. WIll the EFL produce the full minutes of the PPG meeting together with all the relevant comments from League 2 clubs to a Parliamentary committee?
Why can't the EFL sanction miscreant owners rather than clubs?
The EFL were supplied with information from the SST and knew the problems that MTFC were having. In particular the SST highlighted the concern that the owner was taking money out of the club. Would it not have been more sensible to help the club and pay the wages directly?
Could you provide the SST with an outline of the context of MR. Nixon's role as the League 2 representative and could you please provide a view as to whether Mr. Nixon's recent actions can in any way be seen as reasonable and unbiased?


I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours Faithfully

Andy Worth

Chairperson SST

Copy to:

Nigel Huddleston MP Minister of Sport
Damian Collins MP
Lisa Nandy MP
Davi Rutley MP

So that's just come from that one article on GrimsbyLive then? One of the things both Macclesfield and Day are arguing for is the same thing - consistency in punishment.

Can't believe Grimsby would back Stevenage after bra-gate etc.

It could have been any two clubs really, it's not really a Macclesfield/Stevenage thing.

 

[Blue Lion]

For a club in financial peril, to say to them we won’t deduct a lot of points but we will fine them £20,000 – it just seems an illogical approach, and adding to their financial burden.

This was the line I found really stupid. As if we are going to be financially better off being relegated rather than paying a small fine! If he had just said the sanction was too lenient then fine but implying that relegation is in our best interests just shows that he isn't the voice of reason that he clearly thinks he is.

Don't want to have a pop at Grimsby in particular but if club officials are going to take this sort of stance in public then at least find out all the facts beforehand!

 

[Son of Cod]

This was the line I found really stupid. As if we are going to be financially better off being relegated rather than paying a small fine! If he had just said the sanction was too lenient then fine but implying that relegation is in our best interests just shows that he isn't the voice of reason that he clearly thinks he is.

Don't want to have a pop at Grimsby in particular but if club officials are going to take this sort of stance in public then at least find out all the facts beforehand!

But, you can't afford to stump up the costs of being in League Two without a sustainable operating plan (which you clearly haven't had for some time) so at the very least it's arguable that being in L2 is the right place for you at the moment surely?

 

[Boletus Edulis]

I know it is not the same football authorities. But I note that when Aberdeen and Celtic could not fulfil a fixture because players broke Covid 19 rules the punishment was merely to suspend the fixtures.

 

[Blue Lion]

But, you can't afford to stump up the costs of being in League Two without a sustainable operating plan (which you clearly haven't had for some time) so at the very least it's arguable that being in L2 is the right place for you at the moment surely?

That's a fair point, and that's why the part of the original punishment was for us to prepare a business plan for the coming season. If we hadn't managed to do that then fair enough, kick us out.

But things definitely won't get better if we are relegated to the NL, where our gates will plummet and we lose the FL payments, which themselves alone covered all our operating costs - or rather they would have done if the owner hadn't siphoned them off for his other struggling business. Without Amar milking the club for cash we would be sustainable in L2. Losing our FL place means we can't attract new owners so we are now stuck with Amar for the foreseeable. It definitely isn't for the good of the club to be in the NL with the same ownership.

Having said all that, it's our own fault for getting into this situation, and as you say it has felt like a ticking time bomb for years now, so I'm prepared to take it on the chin. But I do have an issue with people like Day trying to make it sound like he was doing us a favour by lobbying for the appeal, when in fact our situation will only get worse from here.

And just to clear things up in this discussion, it wasn't MTFC themselves who criticised other clubs getting involved. That statement is from the supporters trust and it calls out the chairmen who have publicly backed the appeal but clearly don't have all the facts to hand. And it questions Nixon's position on the EFL board, although I don't think he actually played any part in the appeal.

 

[shoddycollins]

A letter to the Chief Executive Officer of the English Football League
SST Secretary
c/o 3 Lincoln Place
Macclesfield

Cheshire

SK10 3EW

Mr David Baldwin
Chief Executive Officer
English Football League
EFL House
10-12 West Cliff
Preston
PR1 8HU

Dear Mr Baldwin

Macclesfield Town Football Club (MTFC) are a small town football club within a hotbed of Premiership clubs in the North West, and one with a proud heritagedating back to 1874. The "against all odds" mentality that pervades our club has seen MTFC achieve promotion to the English Football League (EFL) on two occasions, and on much smaller budgets than many of its peers.

It is further use to note that in this day and age where there is a great concern about the lack of Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) coaches and managers in English football within the game, Macclesfield has appointed 3 BAME managers and a number of BAME coaches during their tenure in the ELF.

Please be assured that the overwhelming majority of Macclesfield Town Football Club (MTFC) Silkmen fans including the Silkmen Supporters Trust (SST) board, would be the first to admit that the stewardship of our beloved club by majority shareholder Mr. AlKadhi has been heartbreakingly horrendous. Silkmen fans everywhere despise his mismanagement of the club and in addition to his contemptuous attitude towards the club’s playing and non-playing staff and of course our long suffering supporters. It is our view that the actions of Mr. AlKhadi have clearly angered the English Football League (EFL), and as a result of his actions MTFC have been rightly docked points for this mismanagement., The recent re-involvement of former Silkmen chairman Mark Blower who played a major role in MTFC's defence at the recent independent panel hearing, had subsequently pointed to a more secure future for our beloved club both on and off the field with an inspiration of a fully operational board dedicated to effective governance of MTFC going forward.

The SST would like to place on record our frustration by the EFL's apparent inability and unwillingness to deal with the actions of appalling owners which have been manifest this season with the cases of Bury and now sadly Wigan. The SST have appealed for help on behalf of the fans, players and community, and have found the EFL to be unsympathetic and largely unresp;onsive. The lack of action on the appeals relating to staff mental healthhave been particularly galling..

The last disciplinary hearing held by an Independent Panel against MTFC made their decision after considering all the evidence and this should be respected. It must be pointed out that the decision was made considering the flawed way points per game (PPG) was calculated. MTFC were in effect deducted 16 points not 13, as recommended by the panel. A comparable analogy to this is a criminal sentenced to 18 months in prison who on arrival at the point of incarceration is told "forget what your sentence is, it is now 2 years" without rhythm nor reason. This is against English Law and legal advice appears to be on the side of MTFC.

It is our view that the EFL are inconsistent to say the least. Stevenage avoided a points deduction following an independent panel's decision, regarding a postponement of a fixture against Oldham Athletic where it was cited that three Stevenage players were identified for international call ups when only two were alleged to be eligible to be counted. Where was the EFL appeal? Southend another serial offender of paying wages late received a suspended point deduction. Again, where was the EFL appeal? These follow the imposition of no points reduction to Bolton Wanderers for missing two games.

The last two weeks have seen a publicity orchestrated campaign by members of the EFL to get Macclesfield demoted, an action the EFL well knows would obliterate the club. The prime orchestrator has been Mr. Philip Wallace of Stevenage, along with others including Mr. Philip Day of Grimsby. We believe that it is disgraceful, that the EFL board representative for League Two, Mr. John Nixon who sits at the high table of the EFL hierarchy, and who should surely provide an unbiased approach to all League 2 clubs; highlighted on social media that such was his indignation at the recent independent panel's decision regarding MTFC, that he was considering resigning from his aforementioned role. Is this the way the EFL conducts its business? The SST has seen no evidence of him demonstrating denial of his apparent ire since this time. The self-righteous indignation from Mr. Nixon was palpably silent following the decision on Stevenage, not to mention inrespect of the PPG calculation that effectively saw the SIlkmen receive a further three point eduction.

It is of further use to note that on the 6th March 2020 Carlisle’s Chief Executive Nigel Clibbens spoke of how "on discussions and deliberations of [Macclesfield], penalties etc, [Mr. Nixon] does not participate, except to simply collect League Two views and pass them to the EFL." The above statement from the Cumbrians Chief Executive appears to have fallen on deaf ears to Mr. Nixon, and the SST would politely request that the EFL provide us with an outline of Mr. Nixon’s role as the League 2 representative, and your explanations to how his recent actions can in any way be seen as reasonable and unbiased.

The decision of the EFL to appeal against the independent decision now appears to be a witch hunt towards MTFC. Stevenage only managed to win three games in the 2019/20 season and were clearly the worst performing team in the division and deserved relegation. The independent panel made its decision and, as in the cases highlighted above, that decision should be accepted by the EFL

In order to understand what is happening could the EFL please answer the following questions:

What date is the appeal to take place on?
On what grounds are the EFL appealing? Has any undisclosed evidence come to light?
Has the EFL been pressureised into the appeal by the owners of other League 2 clubs If so, by how many and who?
Why has the EFL only appealed the MTFC decision?
Does the EFL want to remove MTFC from League 2 because of the mismanagement of its owner?
It is clear that the PPG has been rigged to remove MTFC from League 2. WIll the EFL produce the full minutes of the PPG meeting together with all the relevant comments from League 2 clubs to a Parliamentary committee?
Why can't the EFL sanction miscreant owners rather than clubs?
The EFL were supplied with information from the SST and knew the problems that MTFC were having. In particular the SST highlighted the concern that the owner was taking money out of the club. Would it not have been more sensible to help the club and pay the wages directly?
Could you provide the SST with an outline of the context of MR. Nixon's role as the League 2 representative and could you please provide a view as to whether Mr. Nixon's recent actions can in any way be seen as reasonable and unbiased?


I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours Faithfully

Andy Worth

Chairperson SST

Copy to:

Nigel Huddleston MP Minister of Sport
Damian Collins MP
Lisa Nandy MP
Davi Rutley MP

I saw that but that's not Macclesfields board that's their supporters trust.

You can't really expect Nixon to be unbiased, it's a bit of a myth this thing that everyone should be unbiased all the time. He declared a conflict of interest and withdrew from the discussions because he knew he couldn't be as impartial as the panel would need to be. He then aired his own opinion when he probably shouldn't have but this is far from orchestrating a campaign in cahoots with Grimsby and Stevenage to get Macclesfield kicked out.

 

[Reremnart]

Former PL teams ?
Wigan have been shafted...ohh i forgot you was again sniping at Bolton

It was Sheffield Wednesday actually. IMO their points deduction should have been this, or rather last as it is now , season rather than next thus saving Wigan who I agree have been totally shafted by (P)rick Parry and his merry men.

 

[Vanni]

It seems like we're all agreed then one thing - Macc have been well and truly shafted by the EFL and two greedy L2 clubs. I used to think the two clubs in question were 'proper clubs'. More like 'money scrounging dirty capitalists' if you ask me.

I suggest we all do our collective best to never ever let them forget WHAT THEY DID.

 

[chipmunx]

It seems like we're all agreed then one thing - Macc have been well and truly shafted by the EFL and two greedy L2 clubs. I used to think the two clubs in question were 'proper clubs'. More like 'money scrounging dirty capitalists' if you ask me.

I suggest we all do our collective best to never ever let them forget WHAT THEY DID.

I think all the other teams have a responsibility to relegate Stevenage again this season too.

 

[BlackHaddock]

Manager and assistant have left Macc today, Grimsby's fault, Danny Butterfield used to play for us!

 

[BlackHaddock]

It seems like we're all agreed then one thing - Macc have been well and truly shafted by the EFL and two greedy L2 clubs. I used to think the two clubs in question were 'proper clubs'. More like 'money scrounging dirty capitalists' if you ask me.

I suggest we all do our collective best to never ever let them forget WHAT THEY DID.

Calm down Vanni, GTFC didn't shaft Macc; our chairman only said what he thought was how the EFL should sort out 'problems' in a laid down procedure and deduct points rather than impose fines.

 

[KeithH]

Apathy for me. I just don't see how we survive this with the upcoming HMRC hearing. No interest in a phoenix club for me. Most likely done with club football and go back to sporadic England travel. Thanks Amar, this is what you've reduced me to. No club, no interest in English league football, and whilst admittedly there isn't many of us, its another 2000 on top of me lost from the game.

As Blue Lion says, all the best to everyone, even Stevenage. I can't sink low enough to wish anything like this even on them. All being well karma will sort things out soon enough.

Hope you pull through but don’t be to hasty with the no Phoenix route
Many of our fans felt the same but a majority are now starting to feel some real excitement again
Take a deep breath and try it if it’s not for you them so be it

 

[immariner]

This was the line I found really stupid. As if we are going to be financially better off being relegated rather than paying a small fine! If he had just said the sanction was too lenient then fine but implying that relegation is in our best interests just shows that he isn't the voice of reason that he clearly thinks he is.

Don't want to have a pop at Grimsby in particular but if club officials are going to take this sort of stance in public then at least find out all the facts beforehand!

How is it stupid? A points deduction in line with an agreed framework doesn't necessarily mean that club will get relegated. Imposing a £20k fine, however, will definitely mean that club (which has no fackin' money) has to pay a £20k fine.

 

[Luke Imp]

It wasn't a mandatory fine IIRC, it was to be issued at the discretion of the EFL on the basis of the business plan that was/was supposed to be submitted.

 

[The_Boss]

How is it stupid? A points deduction in line with an agreed framework doesn't necessarily mean that club will get relegated. Imposing a £20k fine, however, will definitely mean that club (which has no fackin' money) has to pay a £20k fine.

And again here is the misunderstanding of us not having any "fackin' money". The budget for our squad will be lowest in the league and within what we can afford. The issue is the owner made the decision to pay people late. It's not because we couldn't afford to, he just chose not to so he could use the money elsewhere! This isn't a spending outside our means problem (we would all be fully on board with any repercussions if so), this is just one man fucking about with the finances to cover his arse elsewhere, before doing the same a few weeks later to pay salaries at MTFC.

 

[The_Boss]

It wasn't a mandatory fine IIRC, it was to be issued at the discretion of the EFL on the basis of the business plan that was/was supposed to be submitted.

Yep, that was the independent commissions recommendation and with the potential for it to be paid back to us on production of a satisfactory business plan. Whether that was produced or not is another question, but it appears the recent additions to the clubs SLT and moving Alkadhi away from the Chairman role appeared to be part of this.

 

[The_Boss]

Interesting story on SSN that Oldham players haven't had anything but their furlough for the past 4 months (all clubs were contractually obliged to top up the other 20%) and in fact wages were not paid on time for any month from January onwards.

 

[BlackHaddock]

Clutching at straws here.

EFL rejects Macclesfield request to stop their relegation to National League

The EFL has rejected Macclesfields request to invoke a regulation that would halt their relegation into non-league football.

www.skysports.com

 

[Conker]

Can’t blame them for it to be honest.

 

[The_Boss]

We all know what the response will be but at least they've tried.

Also be good to hear what they plan to do about Oldham.

 

[Son of Cod]

Hi. Grimsby fan here to say I fully support this.

 

[valefan16]

The EFL need to have consistency, this could kill Macc Town for good and you can't have variations in outcomes like they have seemed to so far.

Macc probably wont get it over turned but certainly worthy of demanding the answers on it.

 

[The Terminator]

Homepage - The English Football League

The Official home of the English Football League

www.efl.com

The expected response.

Nothing on Oldham though.

 

[The_Boss]

Homepage - The English Football League

The Official home of the English Football League

www.efl.com

The expected response.

Nothing on Oldham though.

Expected nothing else.

 

[Son of Cod]

Interesting that none of the Carlisle fans came out and said they were supporting Macclesfield on this.

 

[shoddycollins]

Interesting that none of the Carlisle fans came out and said they were supporting Macclesfield on this.

Why? There's no point in supporting them, it's a bit futile to be honest, what are they gonna do? Have a 25 team division? Just have to trust at this point that the National League goes ahead.

 

[The_Boss]

Why? There's no point in supporting them, it's a bit futile to be honest, what are they gonna do? Have a 25 team division? Just have to trust at this point that the National League goes ahead.

And if it doesn't?

 

[The_Boss]

Ooooh we're 'ard........

Club Statement

Further to yesterday's EFL announcement, the Club will not be making any further comment until it has received advice from leading QC Ian Mill, with support from Geoff Cunningham at Walker Morris.

www.mtfc.co.uk

EFL will be quaking in their boots. To be fair a quick research of Ian Mill show's a more than impressive CV.

Ian Mill KC

Ian Mill KC regularly appears in the Chancery Division, in the Commercial Court, in the Court of Appeal and in international and domestic arbitrations.

www.blackstonechambers.com

 

[Chris FGR]

Not being funny but if Alkhadi can afford expensive legal aid why couldn't the club afford to pay the players/staffs wages in the first place? I got the impression all the central funding/sponsorship etc was going into his other struggling businesses due to him being skint?

If he isn't skint then why was the clubs income not used to pay salaries?

 

[The_Boss]

Not being funny but if Alkhadi can afford expensive legal aid why couldn't the club afford to pay the players/staffs wages in the first place? I got the impression all the central funding/sponsorship etc was going into his other struggling businesses due to him being skint?

If he isn't skint then why was the clubs income not used to pay salaries?

Exactly what we're wondering too. He was found to be sweeping funds between accounts to play all his losses off against each other, and then would move it back to the football club to pay wages late. It's never been a case of not having money, its just the choices he's making not to pay football club salaries on time. He must be verging on criminal.

I think the key line in that post on the OS is "until it has received advice" - basically he'll tell us to give it up and move on.