Brian Horton has left his role as manager of Macclesfield Town by mutual consent.

The 63-year-old only returned to Moss Road last month and was handed the task of trying to keep Macc in the Football League.

However, the veteran boss was unable to prevent the Silkmen from dropping down to the Blue Square Bet Premier Division.

"We need a different set of skills to be competitive in the Conference," said vice-chairman Andy Scott. "Our favoured candidate will be someone who knows the game well at that level.

"We have an excellent set up behind the scenes which we think will offer an attractive proposition to an ambitious manager. We have some targets in mind and we hope to be able to make an early permanent appointment.

"The Conference is a very different competition to the one we left fifteen years ago."

Assistant manager Glyn Chamberlain will take charge of the club for their final game of the season against Southend United on Saturday.