Again, what follows should be considered a precis of the discussion on the evening.
The introduction was by Matthew Lenton and the top table consisted of chairman Rob Bickerton, manager Brian Horton, assistant manager John Askey and team captain Tommy Widdrington.
Part Two of the evening started with the free draw for the first signed football of the season. It was won by someone on the front row who asked for it to be presented to someone who is at present in hospital.
Q5 - the reserve and youth team development was asked about. BH - replied, saying he had always done this. He said it had been discussed with the management and he has always had a youth policy. He said that was why he had brought in another coach to do this and that unfortunately it comes down to money. He mentioned some of the monies being paid at the top levels of football and he also mentioned some of the young players that he brought through during his days at Manchester City and Port Vale. He then gave an amusing story about a Manchester Evening News reporter coming to the club to train for the day and an article comparing the situation at Macclesfield with the big Manchester set ups should be appearing soon. He talked about budgets and player costs. RB spoke saying that the club have been doing a youth policy for 4/5 years now and the money pot for it this year is the largest ever. He said that the club had discussed a whole spectrum of options on this matter.
Q6 - thanks were given for keeping the club in the Football League and the potential for Danny Whitaker and John Miles to come back into the first team was asked about. JA - responded saying that a lot is down to the player's confidence. That at the Moss Rose, the players can hear everything coming from the crowd and that Danny's head will go down if he hears bad things. JA said that if the two players play to their ability, then they can become a big asset to the club. BH - spoke saying he knew John Miles from his time at Port Vale and knew he was very talented and had great ability, but that he needs to want first team action. BH said that Miles would be in the starting line up at Congleton. He said that at the start of the season, all the players were in consideration and who is best will be in the first team. He also said that it was harder to tell people off these days and that there has to be more coaxing of players, and that the crowd can have an effect and some players need pulling through.
Someone then made the point that John Miles always looks a little off the pace, whereas Tommy W looked like a player. This launched BH into an amusing story about TW and a pair of turquoise flip-flops. JA said that the trouble with John Miles was his shape, but that this preseason he looking much more fitter.
Q7 - BH was asked about how many points he thought the club would get. BH - responded by saying he didn't have a clue and that wasn't the way he worked. He preferred to look at ten game groups. At this point the mobile phone of somebody in the audience rang and it was announced that it was a two pound fine under the system of fines. BH said that when he came to the club and went into the changing room, he couldn't believe that they were second bottom, the atmosphere was so good. He said that with great support and a winning mentality the club could do well.
Q8 - the playing system for the new season was asked about, wing backs vs a flat back four. BH - said that he always had played with wingers but that they were hard to find these days. He said that Potter had done well and Bailey had done the wing back role at Lincoln. He said that he would be playing Miles in a more attacking role. That he would start that way.
Q9 - someone said that they had organised a minibus up to Scotland and asked if they could watch the training. BH - said that they were staying at Stirling University but that they couldn't get a pitch there for training, but that all were welcome to come along and join in!
Q10 - someone asked about long distance matches and any special preparation for the game. BH - responded saying that 4 or 5 games would involve overnight stops. He didn't like them but with motorways being a nightmare it was necessary. The point was made that some clubs didn't do overnight stays and players were up at 5 o'clock in the morning to get to matches.
Q11 - an update on the redevelopment of the ground was asked about. RB - said that for the Grand Plan, three Grant Funders had been identified, but that none can provide such a Grant. Sport England and North West Development have no money available at this time. The problem being that the National Lottery is not generating sufficient money. RB said they were looking at other options such putting a simple roof on the away end and tarmac over the car park or going to a commercial developer who would fund the redevelopment and be paid out of revenue. RB said he was surprised at the length of time things took to develop on a project such as this and sometimes patience is needed, to get what is wanted, which would be of benefit to both the club and the community.
Q12 - someone asked if the new captain will be vociferous in the last ten minutes of games as the club has a habit of letting in goals in this period. TW - said that hopefully next season, the club will be far enough ahead to not worry about such things. He went to say that statistically, most goals are scored in this period and if the team have a problem with this then it needs to be overcome.
Q13 - the loss of SilkFM commentary was asked about, especially for long distance away games. RB - said that he would like for there to be a commentary on games, but that the Macclesfield Express had misreported his words. He said that SilkFM did not want to do the commentary and would only do it for a significant payment. RB said that he had discussed this with other clubs and they received payment for having commentary. He did say that there was live commentary on Silkmen World and that Nick Wright was trying to get a Community Radio Station to provide commentary, but that this would not be ready for the Leyton Orient game.
Q14 - someone said that the fans were the club and vice versa and that the recent price increase would effect attendance. RB - responded saying that the desire of the board was to at worst, maintain League status and that there was a financial cost to that. Last season the club had brought in four extra players and had a manager change to do this. The club had made decisions that needed to be made. Now, only 60% of turnover can be spent on players wages and the club wants to have a strong squad of players. Money comes from many sources and when the sums were done, it was seen that more money needed to be generated from gate receipts. He said that no-one likes to put up prices. He said that as a result, overall renewals of season tickets were up - adult's were up, but children's were down. The result is that a good budget had been given to the manager for the next season and that results on the pitch would determine the final outcome.
An additional question was put about match day family tickets. RB responded by saying that the club had a good deal on child season tickets and that the club had to price match day tickets at the same for visitors as home fans. He said that other clubs were withdrawing their match day family tickets. He said that the club will be putting more effort into match by match promotions.
Q15 - someone asked why had the season ticket holders been allowed to go to Stockport or Crewe games, when he went to away games and also why had the Swansea fixture been changed. RB - responded saying that the offer of going to other clubs was a half price offer, so hopefully other fans would come to the Moss Rose and as the home team keeps all the gate receipts of League games, then although it was fantastic to see support at away games, it was money going to the opposition. With regard to the Swansea game, RB said that there was an etiquette regarding such changes and that it was understood that it was a police request due to an international game on the original day.
Someone asked about the time of the Southend match changing to a 7.45 kick-off, but it was understood that this was due to a misprint.
Q16 - the F.A. investigation into the Grants for the McAlpine stand was asked about. RB - said that he had not heard anything and when he had raised the matter with the F.A., they had responded by saying that they will report when ready.
Q17 - Tommy W was asked not to start writing for the Macclesfield Express. TW - responded saying that he had not been asked but that he would try to keep his job by improving results on the field. JA - said he had been asked to do it for 16 years now.
Q18 - someone apologised to Brian H in advance for any comments coming from behind the dugout in the coming season. BH - asked if he would like to take his apologies as well.
Q19 - the teams to watch out for in the coming season was asked about. Bristol Rovers having brought in eleven new players. BH - said that he didn't look at things like that and said if the club were getting odds of 40 to 1 then he liked them.
Q20 - ML asked Tommy about Hartlepool in the Carling Cup. TW - said that the two years at Hartlepool under Chris Turner were the best he'd had because it had been such a well run club. He said that when he came to Macclesfield, a lot of players hadn't played at a higher level, but that now a lot of players have come to the club with such experience. He said that with the Macclesfield badge on his chest he will always do his best for the club, and how he was disappointed not to score last season. He hoped he would get a good reception at Hartlepool. He also mentioned that in his two games against Macclesfield up at Hartlepool, Macc had turned his old club over both times. He said he hoped to be in the next round of the cup.
Q21 - someone asked BH, what had he done to get the MEN writing nice things about the club. BH - said that it had been a good news item about Tommy Rooney and that winning games is always important for a club in such matters.
End of Fans Forum