OFFICIALS at Macclesfield Town are still confident that Paul Ince will be their next manager despite twice putting back Press Conference dates to announce the deal.

Moss Rose chief executive Patrick Nelson said: "Both parties want to make sure that everything is just right and we are currently working through the fine detail.

"We are really quite relaxed about the matter and I doubt whether Paul, his agent and ourselves will be putting in this amount of work to no good cause."

Club owner Amar Alkhadi, who with his brother Bashar, has sunk more than é2m into the Cheshire club over the last three years, emphasised how much they want Ince.

"When managers such as Bryan Robson went to Middlesbrough, or Glenn Hoddle to Chelsea that lifted those clubs and put them on a completely different footing.

"We want the same thing to happen at Macclesfield and Paul Ince is a man I have been closely monitoring ever since I joined the club."

Profile

Macc chairman Rob Bickerton said: "If Paul was to join us it would certainly help to raise our profile, though he may not be with us that long as obviously he has higher ambitions in the game."

The Moss Rose media department is now working on a Press Conference scheduled for Monday, having originally hoped the announcement could have been made last Wednesday.

Macc, meanwhile, travel to Bristol Rovers knowing they have not won a single competitive game since their last visit to the Memorial Stadium on May 6.

Caretaker manager Ian Brightwell is able to welcome back forwards Matthew Tipton and Martin Bullock as the club bid to reigister their first win of the season.

Experienced centre backs David Morley and Danny Swailes may face the axe, after suffering a dip in confidence.

In sharp contrast to Macc, Rovers are now getting into their stride and have won their last three games.

They have a fully fit squad and coach Paul Trollope's only problem is whom to leave on the bench with first choice `keeper Steve Phillips, skipper James Hunt and right back Ryan Green all recovered from injury and available for selection.

Their man to watch is England youth international James Walker, who is currently on-loan from Charlton and who may figure up-front with last season's top scorer Richard Walker.

Last season: Bristol Rovers 2 Macc 3

Key opponent: James Walker - Bright prospect who will be eager to take advantage of Macc's shaky defence

Prediction: Bristol Rovers 2 Macc 1

You can get 11/1 on Macc to win 1-0 with Betfred. For this and more odds, click here.

Agree with the prediction? Have your say.

Tweet