One particular ex-Premier League player wants to set up a phoenix club for Macclesfield Town who were served a winding up order in September.
Judge Sebastian Prentis made a winding up order at a virtual hearing in the specialist Insolvency and Companies Court.
He was told that the Silkmen owe nearly £190,000 in tax and more than £170,000 to two other creditors.
Lawyers representing HM Revenue and Customs had applied for a winding up order.
The judge said he could see nothing which gave him “any comfort” that the club can pay the debts.
He was overseeing the latest in a series of hearings.
Macclesfield were recently relegated from the fourth tier of league football into non league football.
They were relegated after being docked points for breaches of regulations relating to non-payment of wages which dropped them to the bottom of the League Two table.
As Macclesfield Town hope to be saved, former footballer turned pundit Robbie Savage now wants to set up a phoenix club for them.
The Times revealed that the ex-Crewe, Leicester, Blackburn, Birmingham, Brighton and Derby player he is believed to be among a group of businessmen planning to form a new club at Moss Rose.
He came out of retirement to play for Stockport Town last year, a club who is owned by his associate Rob Smethurst, he’s is expected to complete the purchase of Macclesfield’s former home Moss Rose.
Matt Slater of the Athletic said this week: “Local businessman Rob Smethurst has bought Macclesfield Town’s assets out of liquidation & set up Macc Football Club Ltd. Smethurst also owns Pro Football Academy, a private youth acad with 40+ sites across England, & NWCL side Stockport Town. Phoenix club could join North West Counties League in 2021.”
Look who’s gearing up for his return to football EIGHT YEARS after retiring!
Stockport Town’s Robbie Savage! ? pic.twitter.com/oIFJbjigJB
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) November 25, 2019
When asked: “Would he face conflict of interest as Stockport Town are also in the NWCL?”
He responded: “Under FA rules, anyone seeking to have controlling stakes in more than one club needs to square it with them & the relevant league. A non-starter in pro game &, I suspect, not possible in non-league either if both clubs are in the same division. But he’s got a year to sort it.”
@gtmacc said: “The end of football in Macclesfield with our assets bought for a training base for pro football, sad times ahead, long road ahead for any phoenix club without a ground”
Slater then added: “I’d be surprised if that’s his plan, Gavin. Macc Town have a proud non-league history & have spent most of the last 20+ years in the EFL. They also have a fanbase that could return to 2,000+ & potential support from local sponsors. Stockport Town are a much, much smaller club.”
One user claimed ‘there may not be a phoenix club’, to which he replied: “True, he’s got a few hurdles to get over but as I’ve just explained in another tweet, I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t want to revive Macc Town & get them climbing back to the NL asap. Stockport Town can’t do that.”
It was recently revealed that the 129-year-old home of stricken Macclesfield Town Football Club was put up for sale.
The stadium, on London Road, Macclesfield, which has been home to the Silkmen since it was opened in 1891, has been listed for sale on property website Rightmove, looking for offers in excess of £500,000 for the ground.
Rightmove advertise the leasehold of the stadium and an annual rent of £1, with offers in excess of £500,000 sought before the Monday (September 27), submitted in writing along with proof of funds.
Fans reacted after seeing that the ex-Premier League player wants to set up a phoenix club for Macclesfield Town…
Good news. Be interesting to see how it develops.
— Johnboy11 (@Johnboy1115) October 6, 2020
Least it’s not been bought by a developer.
— Mike Potts (@MikePotts75) October 6, 2020
Any confirmation if they do want to set up a Phoenix club? Lots of talk the Moss will purely be used as a base for academy
— #SaveOurSilkmen (@SaveOurSilkmen) October 6, 2020
Good luck to them
Went past today and sad to see no fixtures scheduled pic.twitter.com/pQfVyGCSLx
— Francis Keogh (@HonestFrank) October 6, 2020
Both, I think.
— Matt Slater (@mjshrimper) October 6, 2020
He needs to buy the ground now. https://t.co/MK9MDavI2x
— Frankie Bishop (@Bishop7Frankie) October 6, 2020
Great news. NWCFL next season?
— Dominic McKenzie (@DomMcKenzie6760) October 6, 2020
this is amazing stuff
— Darren rimmer (@Darrenrimmer3) October 8, 2020
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