Paul Ince has resigned as Macclesfield Town manager in order to take over at League Two rivals MK Dons.

Ince took charge of Macclesfield in October and hauled them off the bottom of the Football League before ensuring their survival on the final day of the League Two campaign.

"This has been a tremendously difficult decision for me," Ince told the club's official website.

"My heart has said stay with Macclesfield Town, but my head has been telling me to go to MK Dons.

"It feels like the decision Thierry Henry has had to make regarding going to Barcelona.

"They have significant resources for me to work with, and as I am ambitious to make it to the very top, I think I have to go for it."

Macclesfield chairman Rob Bickerton added: "Paul is a very special person and a fantastic manager.

"We tried our best to keep him at the club but we must accept that these things happen in football."