AXED Macclesfield Town defender Michael Welch confessed: 'I saw it coming'.

The former Republic of Ireland Under-19 international was shown the door at Moss Rose last week.

But Welch, 23, was not surprised to hear he was no longer part of Brian Horton's plans after being transfer listed in January.

'The writing was on the wall then,' said Welch, who made 36 appearances last season. 'I knew I wasn't in his (Brian Horton) plans when I was put on the transfer list and he also brought his own players in.

'The manager said I had been too inconsistent but I've played nearly 40 games and we've finished fifth, so I can't have done too bad.

'But that's the opinion of the manager and it's up to me to prove him wrong at another club.'

The Crewe-born centre-half joined the Silkmen from Barnsley in August 2001 and played 127 times.

But he fell out of favour after Christmas and was told he could leave the Cheshire club.

Welch responded in style, producing some of his best form of the campaign, until he received a one-match ban after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Bury.

Macc then went on a fantastic run - taking 24 points from a possible 27 - and Welch struggled to regain his place.

'I was playing really well and scoring goals,' said Welch. 'But I was suspended against Bury and the team kept winning and it was stop-start after that.

'The annoying thing was it was never a booking - it was my first foul of the game - but it has come back to haunt me.'

He added: 'It was disappointing because you want to be involved in every game, especially in the big games at the end of the season.'

Despite his departure, Welch leaves with many fond memories of his time with the Silkmen.

'Macclesfield has been a big part of my life,' he said. 'I made my League debut here and I've had five great years.

'There has been some tough times fighting relegation but I've enjoyed it. I've made a lot of friends at the club and will leave with a lot of fond memories.

'There's no point in having any hard feelings - I just want to prove the manager wrong somewhere else.'

Tweet