TNT SPORTS pundit Robbie Savage has won promotion with Macclesfield FC at the first attempt.
A 2-1 win against Bamber Bridge on Saturday afternoon saw the Northern Premier League side seal their place in next season’s National League North.
It marks an incredible debut campaign from ex-Manchester United midfielder Savage, who has done the job with six league games still to play.
Macclesfield FC, the phoenix club of now-defunct side Macclesfield Town, are 20 points clear of closest challengers Worksop.
Savage’s side have won 29 of their 36 games so far, scoring 88 goals and conceding just 26.
And it means they will finish the term as Northern Premier League champions even if they go on to lose all six of their remaining matches.
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Savage described it as the highlight of his career in football because during his illustrious playing days he never won a league.
He said: “I’ve been lucky enough to captain four teams in the Premier League, play nearly 350 games in the top-flight, appear in Wembley finals and win 39 caps for my country.
“But Macclesfield being crowned champions of the Northern Premier League was my proudest moment of all.”
Savage added it was especially sweet as there were many people in football who were longing for him to fail.
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He said: “For all the haters, doubters and keyboard warriors, they have fuelled my fire and that of my players.
“I have answered every single person who spoke negatively about us.
“I have proved people wrong all my life. I am a fighter as you have to be after being released by the biggest club in the world [Manchester United] as a youngster.”
Savage took charge of the Silkmen last summer after predecessor Michael Clegg finished second before losing the play-off final.
He was already a part-owner of Macclesfield FC, who were only created in 2020.
And it means Savage could stay on as boss after revealing he would SACK himself if the club failed to go up.
He said in August: “If I fail, I know my time will be up.
“I won’t be able to go back to being a director of football, sitting in the stands and judging other people if I’ve come up short. I know everything is on the line.
“Some of the stuff that was said when I took on the job was unpleasant to say the least. It was a horrible summer.
“But this team will get in the play-offs, and I believe we will go up, but if we don’t win promotion I will walk away from the dugout, take a back seat as a part-owner and watch from afar.
“There will be people who hope I fall flat on my face, but if that happens it won’t be for a lack of effort.”
However, Macclesfield FC owner Robert Smethurst reckons Savage could end up being hired by a bigger side.
He told the BBC: “How long he’ll stay here at Macclesfield, God only knows.
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“Maybe we’ll be lucky enough to keep him for another year. He’s already getting clubs coming for him now, higher up in the league.
“It’ll only be a matter of time before he proves himself and will no longer be here at Macclesfield. I’m aware of that.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
