Silkmen charged over Plymouth match

Macclesfield Town have been charged by the English Football League for failing to fulfil their December 21 home fixture against Plymouth Argyle. 

The League Two match was suspended after the Silkmen were issued with a zero capacity notice by the local Safety Advisory Group (SAG).  

The game was postponed less than 24 hours before the scheduled kick-off when Cheshire East Council released a statement claiming the club had not provided sufficient evidence that Moss Rose stadium was safe for spectators. 

A statement from the Council said: ’This unanimous decision by members of the SAG was not taken lightly but against a background of numerous requests to the club to provide the necessary reports and inspection certificates required to demonstrate that the ground is safe.’

‘Without the necessary assurances from the club that the ground is safe the council, therefore, has issued the club with a “zero capacity” notification, meaning that no spectators can be admitted to the ground for any event. The club has been informed that it has breached its safety certificate in a number of areas.’

The EFL have now followed through on their promise that there would be ‘significant consequences’ if the Plymouth game did not go ahead. 

In a club statement on Monday, Macclesfield said they would be ‘making no further comment at this time.’

The Silkmen are awaiting the outcome of an appeal against the EFL’s decision to deduct six points earlier in the season. 

The governing body docked six points with an additional four-point deduction suspended after the club pleaded guilty to charges relating to the non-payment of staff wages and failing to fulfil their December 7 fixture with Crewe.