.jpg)
League Two side Macclesfield face a miserable Christmas after the FA issued fines and compensation against them for a total of £257,000.
The club were investigated over grants from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF) for the building of a new stand in 2000/1. The FA found that the club had breached rules by claiming grants before the work had been paid for, and that a sponsorship amount from the building contractors was actually a discount on the work - enabling the club to claim more by inflating the cost of the work.
Fines totalled £62,000, and the club were ordered to pay back £195,000 to the FSIF by 31st January. Costs of the hearing were also awarded against the club, sending the total debt over £300,000.
The official Macclesfield site describes the fine as draconian, and admits the club faces insolvency as it cannot raise the money in less than six weeks. The site goes on to say the breaches occured under previous owners and the current owners should not have to pay.
A fans and shareholders meeting has been called for Wednesday to review the implications of the decision. Macclesfield have the right to appeal but are yet to make a decision. Should the club enter administration, they would automatically drop to the bottom of the league, with the 10 point penalty deducted, seven points adrift of safety - but they would face explusion from the FA for non-payment of fines.
