Macclesfield caretaker manager Gil Prescott arrives at Bootham Crescent tomorrow still looking for his first win since taking charge at Moss Rose.

Prescott was installed as the Silkmen supremo less than 48 hours after City brought about the downfall of his predecessor, Peter Davenport, with their 1-0 win on Boxing Day.

Following that defeat the Macclesfield board asked Prescott, who was serving as director of football, to work alongside Davenport to stem a worrying tide of re-sults.

However, Davenport thought his authority was being undermined and walked out on the club.

Prescott, who served as assistant to Sammy McIlroy as the Silkmen rose from the Conference to Division Two, has been placed in temporary charge until the end of the season but is keen to get the job on a full-time basis.

Results have so far been mixed since his appointment.

While City have failed to earn a point or score a goal since their victory over tomorrow's visitors, Macclesfield have drawn two and lost two.

Two creditable draws at Scunthorpe and then at Hull were followed by last week's 1-0 defeat at home to Mansfield and a 4-2 defeat to Division Three leaders Chesterfield in the LDV Vans trophy.

Prescott and his Silkmen were buoyed this week by the news that captain and centre-back Darren Tinson has pledged his future to Moss Rose for the next three-years.

But the signing of a new contract by Tinson has been overshadowed by the decision of the club to transfer-list fans' favourite Rae Ingram.

The central defender's contract is up at the end of the season and while the club were willing to offer him fresh terms Ingram has indicated he wants to try his luck in a higher division.

Ingram, who could walk away on a free at the end of the season hence Macclesfield's decision to list him now, is still expected to return to the side tomorrow after spending the last ten weeks on the sidelines following a knee operation.

With Simon Collins still out with ankle ligament trouble, Ingram is expected to play alongside Tinson at the heart of the Macclesfield defence.

A notable absence from the Silkmen side that lost to City last month is top goalscorer Rich Barker, who was recently snapped up by Division Two promotion contenders Rotherham for £75,000.

Updated: 09:13 Friday, January 19, 2001