Macclesfield's Supporters Trust has called on the club's owners to provide assurances that the club remains sustainable after club chairman Mike Rance quit on Friday.
Rance, who oversaw the club's first profitable season in 15 years last term but had his day to day role removed in May, is widely rumoured to have bailed the club out only two weeks ago with unpaid bills mounting at Moss Rose. Rance is reported by club sources to have invested £45,000 to clear an urgent bill, but total outstanding debts at the club this season are believed, in Conference circles, to be closer to £200,000.
Claims that the club's staff and players have gone without pay have coincided with a run of three straight losses on the pitch, culminating in their 2-1 home loss to Alfreton yesterday in front of just 1,437 supporters, which has seen the club slip from top spot in the table to eighth.
The Silkmen have loaned out a string of players and tried to sell at least two more from their sizable squad list. First choice Glenn Cronin is the only keeper left at the club after reserve stopper Andrew Mills was loaned out - and allowed to play for his new club in the FA Trophy - while striker Ben Mills has seen his asking price slashed after interest in the forward cooled.
Mills, who hit nine goals in eight games on loan at Chester, had been set for a £15,000 move to the Conf North side before the Silkmen upped the price by £5,000 after interest from other clubs. Now he is reported to be available for less than £10,000 after the string of interested buyers refused to meet the cash upfront demands for the transfer.