MACCLESFIELD TOWN boss John Askey says he is flattered to be linked with the vacant managerial position at Wrexham.

Askey is a 12/1 shot in the betting for the Racecourse hotseat and believes Wrexham are ‘probably the biggest club’ in the Conference.

The 50-year-old is a legend at Moss Rose, having made 509 appearances for Macc, netting 109 goals.

“It’s nice to be linked to jobs like Wrexham,” he said. “Being linked with bigger clubs shows you must be doing a good job. It’s the same as a player, you want to be linked to better teams. But it’s all speculation really and I’ve got a job to do at Macclesfield.

“There’s no doubt, Wrexham is one of the biggest jobs in the Conference. Along with Bristol Rovers it’s probably the biggest club at this level and it would be a great job for someone.”

Macclesfield were on course for a top five finish and were sitting pretty in third following a 1-0 win at Telford on March 10.

However, a six-match winless streak has left Askey’s outfit in sixth and one point off fifth-placed Forest Green Rovers.

Ironically the Reds may have put paid to the Silkmen’s play-off hopes, after Rob Evans last-minute equaliser at Moss Rose on Easter Monday denied Macc a crucial victory.

Their form has nose-dived at the business end of the season and Eastleigh’s 2-0 win at Halifax on Tuesday night meant Askey’s men dropped out of the play-off places.

However, Askey remains fully focused on securing a top five finish. “We’re just trying hard to put it right at the moment,” he continued.

“We’ve suffered some bad injuries and suspensions at key moments but we’ll keep scrapping. I’ve got a job to do here and it’d be wrong for me to start discussing another job.”

TNS manager Craig Harrison remains the 4/6 favourite for the job with Wrexham’s director of football Barry Horne 3/1 second favourite.

Carl Darlington has been in temporary charge since Kevin Wilkin was sacked on March 30 and his four game unbeaten run came to an end on Tuesday as Wrexham lost 2-1 at relegation threatened Welling United.

But caretaker manager Darlington will miss Saturday’s final home game of the season against Braintree Town, as well as the midweek trip to Aldershot Town, as he is away in his capacity as Technical Programmes Manager for the Welsh Football Trust.

Goalkeeper coach Michael Oakes and Glyndwr Wrexham Football Academy manager Lee Jones, who have been helping Darlington, will remain in the dug-out and the caretaker boss is expecting a positive reaction from the Reds’ players.

“I’m going away with Wales under 17s and I’m going to miss the game on Saturday and on Tuesday,” said Darlington. “The players are good enough and I know you will get a reaction on Saturday. Unfortunately I’m going to miss that reaction because I’m going to be in the Faroe Islands.”