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Silkmen threaten to strike on Saturday

UNPAID players and staff at Macclesfield say their League Two match against Crewe on Saturday will not go ahead, citing concerns over “emotional and mental well-being.”

Last month, the Cheshire club was charged with misconduct by the EFL over its failure to pay players. The first team had followed through on a strike threat during November, forcing Macclesfield to field youth-team players in a 4-0 FA Cup loss against relative minnows Kingstonian.

Today, a joint statement issued on behalf of Macclesfield players and staff said the Crewe game would not be going ahead.

“As a group, we’d like to inform the EFL and Crewe Alexandra Football Club that the game on Saturday won’t be taking place despite growing reports that it is ‘business as usual’,” the statement reads.

“This is down to the fact that salaries have not been paid for last month.

“We have not trained as a squad since last Thursday due to the fact we have no training ground but, most importantly, the game can’t go ahead for the emotional and mental well-being of the players which is currently rock bottom.

“We hope that our own fans, who have been tremendous, Crewe fans and the whole of the football community can understand this decision with it being such an important month for us all on and off the pitch.”

Following the joint statement, Crewe said they were seeking more clarity.

As the Morning Star went to press, there had not yet been an official decision taken either way as to whether Saturday’s match will go ahead.

It is understood that the Professional Footballers’ Association is in constant discussions with Macclesfield’s players and the EFL, with the EFL board set to discuss the matter earlier today.

The EFL later said that it would meet with players to see if fixtures could be played.

Non-fulfilment of the fixture would trigger further disciplinary action against the club, which already faces a charge of misconduct over its failure to pay players.

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