Hartlepool United's National League rivals Macclesfield Town wound up in High Court over debts totalling more than £500,000 two and a half weeks before the start of the 2020-21 season

The crisis club were relegated into the National League following a 17-point deduction following three disciplinary cases, including failing to pay their players’ wages on time and an EFL appeal.

The initial disciplinary verdict against Macclesfield would have seen Stevenage drop to the fifth tier before the EFL appeal saw them reprieved.

Now, the Silkmen have been wound-up after the court heard the club owed £190,000 in unpaid tax as well as a further £173,000 sum to former manager John Askey.

A financial lender was also said to be owed £173,000 according to reports in the national media.

And with debts totalling £536,000, the High Court has made the decision to wind up the insolvent club just 17 days before the start of the 2020-21 National League season on October 3.

The club's owner Amar Alkadhi had asked for a further eight-week adjournment on the verdict which would leave the National League with just 23 teams ahead of the new campaign.

The National League Resolution, which clubs voted on in the summer, stated that the fifth tier shall remain comprised of 24 clubs.

And with Macclesfield being wound-up, relegated Ebbsfleet United could have a solid case for reprieval.

The Fleet were relegated to the National League South on the points per game rule by just 0.002 points after the 2019-20 season was cancelled due to coronavirus.

But with little over two weeks before the start of the new season and the fact that fixture details have already been confirmed across the three National League divisions, an 11th-hour u-turn would be an unprecedented move by the National League.

Pools were set to welcome Macclesfield Town to Victoria Park on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 before making the trip to Moss Rose on Tuesday, April 13, 2021.

Dave Challinor’s side could be left with a free space in their fixture schedule for the upcoming season or potentially face a daunting midweek trip to Ebbsfleet should The Fleet be saved from relegation.

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