The 63-year-old has returned to the Silkmen following a previous managerial stint between 2004 and 2006 in order to replace departed boss Gary Simpson.
The League Two side are fighting to remain in the league as they sit just one point from the bottom of the table.
The former Port Vale coach will be joined by Glyn Chamberlain in the dugout for the remainder of the season.
Restore Data
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |
| 1 | Port Vale | 15 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 23 | 16 | 7 | 30 |
| 2 | Walsall | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 15 | 12 | 27 |
| 3 | Notts County | 15 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 27 |
| 4 | Doncaster RoversDoncaster | 15 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 21 | 17 | 4 | 27 |
| 5 | Crewe AlexandraCrewe | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 25 |
| 6 | MK Dons | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 24 | 17 | 7 | 24 |
| 7 | Grimsby Town | 15 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 19 | 25 | -6 | 24 |
| 8 | Gillingham | 15 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 23 |
| 9 | Chesterfield | 15 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 28 | 18 | 10 | 22 |
| 10 | Bradford CityBradford | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 16 | 4 | 22 |
| 11 | BarrowBarrow | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 22 |
| 12 | Fleetwood TownFleetwood | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 21 |
| 13 | Salford City | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 17 | -3 | 20 |
| 14 | AFC Wimbledon | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 19 |
| 15 | Newport CountyNewport | 15 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 19 | 26 | -7 | 19 |
| 16 | Cheltenham TownCheltenham | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 19 | 22 | -3 | 18 |
| 17 | Tranmere RoversTranmere | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 17 | -7 | 17 |
| 18 | Accrington StanleyAccrington | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 18 | 22 | -4 | 16 |
| 19 | Bromley | 14 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 18 | -2 | 15 |
| 20 | Harrogate TownHarrogate | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 21 | -9 | 15 |
| 21 | Colchester UnitedColchester | 14 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 17 | 21 | -4 | 13 |
| 22 | Swindon TownSwindon | 15 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 16 | 23 | -7 | 12 |
| 23 | Carlisle UnitedCarlisle | 15 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 13 | 28 | -15 | 11 |
| 24 | Morecambe | 15 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 26 | -12 | 10 |
| > League Two Full Table | |||||||||
