MACC LURE TOO MUCH FOR CLEGG

MICHAEL CLEGG says the Macclesfield manager's job is too big to turn down.

- Matt Badcock

The 40-year-old has left the Silkmen's NPL Premier promotion rivals Warrington Rylands to take up the vacancy left by Alex Bruce's surprise departure for a coaching role at League Two Salford City.

Bruce took charge of Macc in October after Mark Duffy was axed and had guided the ambitious Step 3 outfit into the Isuzu FA Trophy quarter-finals as well as fifth place in the table, with games in hand.

Clegg leaves Rylands third and while he admits the timing isn't great, the former Atherton Collieries and Ashton United boss believes it's a job he just had to take.

"It's not good timing for anyone," Clegg told The NLP. "It's not a good time for them losing Alex, it's not a good time for Rylands losing me.

"Listen, I've hit an age now where my stats and where I've been probably show I deserve a chance at a bigger club. I just had to go at this stage of my career, it was kind of now or never.

"I know it comes with risks. I was in a comfy, safe place at Rylands but I am at a stage of my life, my career, where I need to go for the next challenge.