He former England captain inherits a side firmly nailed to the bottom of League Two and still without a win.
They fought hard enough for a point on a ground where their last three visits have brought them three wins, but saw their influential defender Danny Swailes sent off as they picked up a clutch of second half cards.
It ended as a ragged ill tempered affair with Rovers unable to force home a goal. The points should have been secured late on when the visitor's keeper Jonny Brain slipped on the wet surface leaving Richard Walker an angled shot at an open goal, but he hit the side netting.
Macclesfield's acting boss Ian Brightwell believes they need four or five new players but clearly has a lot of faith in Spencer Weir-Daley.
Midway through the first half an elbow split the young striker's left eyebrow and rather than sub him, Brightwell played for 20 minutes with a man down while he got treated.
While he was off his side had their only chance when Matt Tipton, on loan from Bury, was blocked off by Rovers defender Steve Elliott.
A strong low free kick by Kevin McIntyre drew an alert smothering dive by home keeper Scott Shearer.
Life was equally a struggle for Rovers who have lost their young loan man James Walker to a training ground injury the day before.
They were back to the combination of Richard Walker and Lewis Haldane. Walker was looking for his touch all afternoon while Haldane's energy lacked a sense of direction.
Walker had one prowling header one-handed away for a corner, while Haldane created a great second half chance when Swailes collected the first of his two cards for hauling him down. The position just outside the box was good but Sam Igoe's free kick flew over the bar.
Weir-Daley, back for the second half with a heavily bandaged head, picked up a card when he retaliated to a crude tackle on him.