Macclesfield have announced (via Robbie Savage) that following promotion to the NPL Division 1 West (step 4) they are moving to a daytime training model. This effectively means they are going full time.

This didn't work out for South Shields as they failed to get promoted this season, although finishing 2nd.

When was the last season we played them whilst in the National League - was it 17/18 season?

I know they get decent 3000+ crowds but this is still a big ask.

they are getting bigger crowds now than when they were in the league with away fans. just wonder how much the robbie savage factor has to do with it.

can see them getting back to the NL sooner rather than later tbh. Bury will be another one.

Scarborough or Gateshead - these 2 teams are the most likely of local teams i believe we may encounter in the near future playing league football. Good things happening at both clubs - tried and tested method of taking Newcastle academy dropouts (Gateshead) and giving them football - something ive said before we need to make happen at Pools. Even Sunderland released grads too, as they have a hell of an academy up that way.

but will gatehead survive in the NL. If only they got macclesfield type gates it might give em a fighting chance.

I think Gateshead depends on Williamson staying, and whether their front three can cut it at NL level.

no doubt they may poach one or two of the better players from their previous league - i would think if not already they need to go back to full time professional club again. Should the front 3 stay then they have a fighting chance - but that league has just gained some good clubs in scunny and oldham and what ever is left of the playoff 6 are all very good teams. id imagine they be hunting for loan players from the league now they are back in the basmement

Their biggest problem is their neighbours over the water, you’ll always struggle in their shadow. That said a winning team will attract the crowds….. a big ig though sadly.

clubs tend to gain or lose fans at a certain percentage. starting from a low figure they,d need a 100 per cent rise that would not happen anywhere for years.