Robbie Savage's ambitious Macclesfield FC have courted former Premier League stars as they bid to climb the English football pyramid.
Macclesfield FC, a phoenix club of Macclesfield Town, have begun their ascent at rapid pace after back-to-back promotions since starting out in the North West Counties Premier Division back in 2020.
Savage, Macclesfield's director of football, installed former Hull City defender - and son of ex-Birmingham and Newcastle boss Steve Bruce - Alex Bruce as the club's manager at the end of October.
While the side had ex-Magpie Papiss Cisse training with them last month following his release from French side Amiens SC in the summer and snapped up Everton flop Oumar Niasse on a short-term deal.
On Tuesday, ahead of their Cheshire Senior Cup clash against Tranmere, the club announced that Danny Simpson would be part of their matchday squad.
The 36-year-old, who is studying for his coaching badges at Old Trafford, has been a free agent since leaving Bristol City in 2022 and revealed last month that he was training with Savage's outfit.
'No one even knows this but I train at Macclesfield twice a week,' he said on the Filthy Fellas podcast. 'I have some kind of get up to go to a training ground with the lads, train and kick a football.
'I needed somewhere to go before I started helping with the coaching stuff at United, because I was lost for six months.'
The Silkmen ran out 4-2 winners against Tranmere on Tuesday night thanks to a hat-trick from Niasse. Simpson lasted 78 minutes in his first appearance for the club.