Macclesfield Town: Place In Team For £20,000

A cash-strapped football club are offering one fan the chance to play for the first team - if they're willing to pay £20,000.

Conference Premier side Macclesfield Town say the successful applicant will play 10 minutes of a league or cup game.

The club say only fit males between the ages of 18 and 35 will be considered.

"It's common knowledge that the club is in a precarious position and the club are looking at all avenues to keep the club running," said associate director Andy Scott.

"As far as we know this has never been done before, so it is a unique moment in English football.

"If we are 3-0 up with 10 minutes to go that would be a good opportunity for (manager John Askey) to utilise the situation.

"There's absolutely no way we would do it unless it was the right moment in the right game."

The club, known as the Silkmen, ended last season £500,000 in debt.

They need to raise £100,000 by the end of August to stay afloat.

It is unclear how a winner will be selected if more than one person offers the cash.

Askey said: "What we don’t want is for it to become farcical, but I don't think it will hinder or restrict the team, far from it.

"We wouldn’t be doing it if there was any danger of that."

Jon Smart, chairman of the Silkmen's Supporters Trust, said: "Personally I can't see anything wrong with it. If someone is prepared to pay that, good luck to them."

The team were relegated from the Football League in 2012 after 15 years. Their league is one below League Two.

Last season the club reached the fourth round of the FA Cup, but lost 1-0 to Premier League side Wigan Athletic.

The Football Conference has not yet commented on the plan.