Macclesfield Town 'disappointed and saddened' after appeal outcome confirms relegation

Macclesfield Town's two-year stay in League Two came to an end on Tuesday

Macclesfield Town are "disappointed and saddened" by relegation from the English Football League, following an EFL appeal against a points deduction.

A suspended four-point sanction for late payment of wages was applied after an independent panel ruled against them to spare Stevenage from relegation.

In a statement, the Silkmen said they were "investigating a number of avenues" in response.

But head coach Mark Kennedy has already left the Cheshire club.

Macclesfield have confirmed that both former Liverpool, Manchester City, Wolves and Republic of Ireland winger Kennedy, who had been in charge since January, and his assistant Danny Butterfield have rejected contract offers.

Stevenage, who finished bottom of League Two when clubs voted to end the season early because of the coronavirus pandemic, looked set to lose their EFL status as a result of Macclesfield being docked only two points in June.

Original Macc decision 'unduly lenient'- Wallace

"We always thought the decision was unduly lenient," said Stevenage owner Phil Wallace, whose club were denied their request to be represented at the appeal. "The EFL felt the same way so all credit for them for taking it to appeal.

"The sense of relief last night was great," he told BBC Look East. "Obviously we were working a long time to get that decision.

"It's good for the town but it's much better if you have a winning football club. We think we have learnt our lessons and we know what went wrong.

"I keep getting three wins out of 36 hurled at me, but we did have 10 games left and football is riddled with recoveries.

"I don't have any doubt in my mind that over those 10 games we would have done more than enough to get out of trouble."

Wallace does also recognise, however, that the Hertfordshire club, who first entered the Football League in 2010, face an uncertain financial future, like all their fellow clubs in the lower leagues.

"We'll really get hit in the autumn when there is no more money coming through," he added. "No more furlough, no income, or to what extent crowds will be allowed in. So are there difficult times ahead? Most definitely, yes."