Crisis-club Macclesfield hit with SEVEN-point deduction after calling off Plymouth clash in December
CRISIS-CLUB Macclesfield Town have been hit with a seven-point penalty for failing to fulfil a fixture and non-payment of players.
Macc were clobbered by the EFL independent disciplinary committee after they called off a game with Plymouth Argyle in December.
It is their second punishment this season.
They were previously slapped with a ten-point deduction but that was with four suspended.
However, on appeal it was reduced to a four-point penalty with the rest suspended.
Now, though, those three suspended points have been docked, as well as the four new points for the latest breach - with two further points suspended this time.
Macc could not stage the game against Argyle because of problems over safety certificate payments, one of many financial problems to dog the club.
The decision came late and was made by the EFL despite Argyle having travelled north for the pre-Christmas clash.
A Macclesfield statement read: "Further to an Independent Disciplinary Commission hearing on Tuesday 21st April 2020, Macclesfield Town can confirm that the Club have been served with an immediate seven-point deduction - with two additional points suspended.
"This has been imposed as a result of two further misconduct charges, which the Club admitted at the earliest possible opportunity.
"These being non-fulfilment of the scheduled Sky Bet League Two fixture against Plymouth Argyle on 21st December 2019 and the non-payment of players on the applicable payment date back in February 2020.
"This means that the Club now reside in 23rd position within the Sky Bet League Two table, having amassed a revised total of 25 points."
And the penalty leaves the Silkmen just three points ahead of Stevenage, rather than the mid-table safety they would find themselves in.
It is an additional factor to consider as the EFL look into the possibility of ending League Two without playing any more games.
Stevenage are in the relegation spot just now but there is discussion about their place being saved because of the disruption and possibility of a points-per-game system being used.
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This may give them even more cause to complain and state their case for a reprieve in the circumstances.
The penalty also raises fresh unease about previous punishments.
Bolton escaped with fines for missing a game while Macclesfield were hammered and used the Wanderers verdict in their appeal.