Robbie Savage makes a promise to Macclesfield fans as he targets trying to get Northern Premier League Premier Division club back in the EFL.
Macclesfield currently sit 3rd in the 7th tier division with 10 points from 4 games played, winning 3 and have drawn 1, after there had been quite the backlash to his appointment as manager.
He is the Silkmen’s 8th manager in 4 years as boss Michael Clegg resigned and Savage came in to replace him.
Savage, part owner and former director of football of the club, has got quite the task trying to win fans’ approval, he wants promotion this season, and failing that, he says he’ll sack himself.
— Robbie Savage (@RobbieSavage8) August 21, 2024
“I know there are people who want me to fail” – @RobbieSavage on his first job as manager, approaching his 50th birthday, at phoenix club @thesilkmen – today’s @DailyMirror and @MirrorFootball pic.twitter.com/R7b2jDNyIX
— MIKE WALTERS (@MikeWaltersMGM) August 22, 2024
In an interview with Mike Walters for the Mirror, can be read online or in their newspaper, Savage says: “I make no bones about it, I want to take Macclesfield back into the Football League. I’m absolutely loving it – the work on the pitch, trying to get my ideas across to the lads, the teamwork.
“As director of football I really enjoyed building the squad, and I signed all these players. In the summer I had an opportunity to be head coach at a club much higher up the pyramid – but I wasn’t ready to leave Macclesfield so the board asked me to do it here.
“I’m starting from a great platform, just missing out on promotion last season and with the acquisitions we’ve made. Ten points from four games is a good start and it should have been 12.
“I know there are people out there who want me to fail and they want Macclesfield Football Club to fail. Maybe there’s more of a spotlight because of my profile, but we are the big boys of this league and we have no divine right to win every game.
“I’ve done my coaching badges through the Welsh FA and I’m starting my A licence in November, but in four games the biggest thing I’ve learned is that I had the easiest job in the world as director of football.
“When you are standing on that touchline making decisions with the hopes of 3,000 fans at home, hundreds who follow us away and a whole community riding on them, the pressure is immense.
“That’s why I take my hat off to every single manager who puts themselves in this position – and when I listen to pundits who have never been here, it’s given me a different insight.
“I’ve never been one to call for this manager to go or that manager to be sacked, but now I’ve had a taste of it, I have only respect for those who step Into the lions’ den. I know I’m going to be dug out if I lose games, and I’ll be judged on results like every other manager.
“If I fail, I know my time will be up. “I won’t be able to go back to being a director of football, sitting in the stands and judging other people if I’ve come up short. I know everything is on the line.
“Some of the stuff that was said when I took on the job was unpleasant to say the least. It was a horrible summer. But this team will get in the play-offs, and I believe we will go up, but if we don’t win promotion I will walk away from the dugout, take a back seat as a part-owner and watch from afar. There will be people who hope I fall flat on my face, but if that happens it won’t be for a lack of effort.
“I love non-League football because the fans get so close, and I can handle the verbals, but I need to protect myself in case it crosses the line.”
Robbie Savage gives honest interview on controversially being appointed as Macclesfield head coach
MACCLESFIELD LIST OF SEASONS:
2021–22 – NWCFL Premier Division ↑ – P 40, W 29, D 7, L 4, GF 94, GA 38, PTS 94, POS 1st
2022–23 NPL Division One West ↑ – P 38, W 28, D 6, L 4, GF 95, GA 27, PTS 90, POS 1st
2023–24 NPL Premier Division – P 40, W 24, D 5, L 11, GF 84, GA 47, PTS 77, POS 2nd (lost to Marine the the playoff final)
MANAGERS:
Danny Whitaker – 13 October 2020 until 29 October 2022 – P 68, W 48, D 7, L 13, GF 171, GA 71, WIN % 70.59 (honour – 1 NWCFL Premier Division)
David McNabb – 31 October 2022 until 10 December 2022 – P 9, W 7, D 1, L 1, GF 22, GA 9, WIN % 77.78
Neil Danns – 13 December 2022 until 5 May 2023 – P 21, W 15, D 5, L 1, GF 53, GA 16, WIN % 71.43 (honour – 1 NPL Division One West)
Mark Duffy – 5 May 2023 until 25 October 2023 – P 18, W 10, D 2, L 6, GF 34, GA 21, WIN % 55.56
Neil Baker, Peter Band, Robbie Savage (interim) – 25 October 2023 until 31 October 2023 – P 2, W 2, D 0, L 0, GF 6, GA 3, WIN % 100.00
Alex Bruce – 1 November 2023 until 21 February 2024 – P 22, W 15, D 3, L 4, GF 57, GA 30, WIN % 68.18
Michael Clegg – 22 February 2024 until 17 June 2024 – P 16, W 11, D 0, L 5, GF 31, GA 15, WIN % 68.75
You must be logged in to post a comment Login