One of the first decisions taken by new Silkmen boss Keith Alexander upon being given the challenge of the Moss Rose hot seat was to invite Gary Simpson to join him as his assistant. 'Simmo' has known the gaffer since their playing days back in the 80s at Boston United, a career that started out as a trainee at Stoke City and included spells at Stafford, Weymouth and Altrincham. He was also capped by England at Semi-Professional level.

Gary and Keith were to team up together in management for the first time at Ilkeston Town and have been almost inseparable in the intervening years! The only period they were not working together was when Keith was asked to become assistant manager at Sincil Bank, later to be given the challenge of the top job.

"Yes that's right," explained Gary. "We do go back a long way and in that time have developed a very close working relationship. I think we complement each other very well and despite the fact we are always falling out with each other, nine times out of ten we tend to agree on things when it comes to footballing matters."

"I think having someone who can stand up to you is a lesson Keith learnt during his first spell at Lincoln. His team I think we afraid to challenge him and I don't think this is a healthy situation. Don't get me wrong, ultimately the buck stops with Keith as he is the gaffer. But he welcomes opinions and I am certainly not afraid to give mine as he will tell you!"

"But our partnership over the years seems to have worked as between us we know how to win football matches. At Ilkeston we took the team up two divisions and then at Northwich we turned their season around from a seemingly hopeless situation. And of course we enjoyed a lot of success at Lincoln, in terms of getting the club into the play-offs. The real disappointment was the opportunity we both had a Peterborough. I still remain confident that Keith would have achieved similar success as has Darren Ferguson but the new owner came in just two months into our spell at London Road, wanted his own man in charge and we were the casualties. That's football. It's happened before and I am sure it will happen again."

So given their success of saving clubs what was Gary's first impression of life at Macclesfield?

"It was always going to be a tall order," smiled Gary. "And if I am being brutally honest after the first game against Notts County I was worried. Sitting in the dressing room before the game there was so much apprehension and the lads were very quiet. We had to crank up the music just to try and get them going. But after that slow start the lads have been fantastic. They've listened to what we have had to say, taken it on board and most importantly carried it out on a match day. The results have shown that but what is most encouraging for me is the enthusiasm that is now running right throughout the team."

"Keith and I would be the first to admit that there are better coaches out there. But in a day and age when there isn't that much to choose between players at this level in terms of ability, it is important that are skilled in man management. Hopefully that's were we can point to a degree of success and our ability to instil self-belief into a group of players."

"We both also work hard to spot talent outside of the leagues. Between us we get to a fair few games and there are quite a few players that I am proud to say were given their first chance by the clubs I was involved with over the last decade. That's something we would be looking to repeat at the Moss Rose, the combination of that and a good youth policy vital to the club's ability to compete and develop."

"And that is what it is all about really. We want to make this a better football club."

And what about life outside of football?

"I was never one of these players who got to their 30s and suddenly thought that they had to find an alternative career. I still love the game and it is great that I have been given the opportunities I have had, together with Keith, on the management side. I want to stay in the game for as long as I can but I have always had business interests outside of the game. I think that is important as things can change quickly in football as we found out at Bury recently."

"So there is plenty to keep me busy outside of my footballing commitments and I enjoy the challenge of managing them both. One of the initiatives I am involved in is a new Website which we are hoping will be the next 'Facebook'. So all in all it is an exciting time."

"The most important thing for now however is getting those extra few points we need to make certain our place in League Two is secured for next season. We have to assume the likes of Mansfield will win all of their remaining games which is why we have worked hard in training this week and we'll be heading back to Bury at the weekend with the intention of finishing the job off."