NEW Macclesfield Town manager Paul Ince has denied he is insane for taking control of the Football League's basement boys.

"People may say I am mad to take on a club that is seven points adrift at the foot of League Two but we can't all be as fortunate as someone like Gareth Southgate and this is where I am and I intend to make the most of it," he said yesterday, as he took over the reins of the Cheshire club.

After protracted contract negotiations, the former England captain andUnited midfield star has signed a 14-month contract, that will run until December 31, 2007, with an option for another six-month rolling contract.

"I have a great feeling about this club. I want a challenge and have always wanted challenges throughout my career. I have had several good meetings with chief executive Patrick Nelson, chairman Rob Bickerton and the owners Amar and Bashar Alkhadi and they sold the club and its potential to me really well."

"I am really excited about this opportunity and have already had one training session with the lads that went really well. The boys worked really hard as they would for a new manager, but nonetheless I was impressed with what I saw."

He added: "I have been to a few games and seen the boys play and I don't think the teams that have beaten us are any better than Macclesfield.

"But clearly after 15 League games without a win confidence is at a low ebb and when we went a goal down against Stockport I saw shoulders drop - so first things first and let's just get that first win.

Lift

"That win, when it comes, will lift the whole club, lift the supporters and see confidence rise again. But to do that I feel we need to get harder to beat, get more organised and get a little fitter."

Ince, who played 488 League games in a career in England and Italy, with 53 international caps, will not be able to contribute on the field until January 1 when he could line up against hard men Lincoln at the Moss Rose.

He said: "Hopefully I will not be needed by then, but I am going to keep myself fit and I will be ready if I feel I am needed.

"However, one of things that sold Macc to me was the assurance that I would be able to bring in new faces and I do feel that though we have many strengths in the squad that there are also some weaknesses.

"Above all I think we are a quiet team and we need some experienced men to come in and give the team a lift and some leadership."

He also added that he knew all about relegation dog-fights and that in nearly 20 seasons as a player had been involved in one unsuccessful fight with West Ham in 1989 and one successful fight with Middlesbrough."

"I know all about it and how hard it is, but you have to keep confident and keep going. But there is long way to go and much can happen in 31 games. My task, though, is survival. If we can achieve that then it will have been a success."

Ince has brought in his own fitness coach, Duncan Russell, who had 22 years in the Army Physical Training Corps, running pre-season fitness camps for Southampton, before working with Derby, Walsall and Wolves where he met Ince.

Ince said: "The boys said it was the hardest warm-up routine they had ever been through and no one said it was going to be easy."

Question marks, however, must hang over the futures of former caretaker Ian Brightwell, youth team coach John Askey and physio Paul Lake.

"I will assess what is here and what I want over the next few weeks and talk to all those concerned, though I do have a few men in mind of my own," said the new boss.

What are you expecting from Ince's regime? Have your say.

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