Macclesfield FC find themselves navigating deeply uncomfortable territory off the pitch after confirming that co-owner Robert Smethurst has been suspended from his role at the club following an arrest on suspicion of controlling and coercive behaviour.

Smethurst, 48, was arrested in Wilmslow, Cheshire, on 19 May. Cheshire Constabulary confirmed he has since been bailed pending further enquiries. The club moved swiftly — if cautiously — to distance its day-to-day operations from its co-owner, releasing a statement on behalf of the board of directors that acknowledged the seriousness of the situation without straying into detail.

"Mr Smethurst has temporarily been relieved of all duties associated with the club whilst legal guidance is sought," the board's statement read. "Whereas we can completely and unequivocally understand that these reports will be unsettling, the board of directors would like to assure everyone of their belief that they are wholeheartedly acting within the best interests of the club and in a bid to safeguard its continued success."

The word "unsettling" does a lot of heavy lifting there, and supporters of a club that has had more than its fair share of turbulence in recent years could be forgiven for feeling weary at another storm rolling in.

Smethurst himself was not silent on the matter. Speaking to the BBC, he confirmed the arrest but pushed back firmly on the allegations, calling them "an absolute load of rubbish". His words carried an emotional weight that will resonate with those fans who have backed him.

"I'm absolutely gutted, devastated. I want my club back," he said. "I love the people that have supported me. All I can ask is that they support me through this time. I hope the whole of Macclesfield gets behind me and we pull together and put me back into a position where I feel that I actually belong."

It is worth remembering what Smethurst's arrival meant to Macclesfield in the first place. He purchased the club out of insolvency back in 2020, a period when the Silkmen's very existence was genuinely in doubt. That kind of intervention — stepping in to save a community football club from oblivion — earns lasting goodwill in any town, and Macclesfield is no different. He also brought Robbie Savage in as manager during that period, a move that drew significant attention to the club. Since then, Smethurst has diluted his shareholding, meaning the ownership structure is broader than it once was.

None of that history, of course, has any bearing on the legal process now under way. The presumption of innocence is fundamental, and it would be wrong to draw conclusions while Cheshire Constabulary continues its enquiries. The board has been careful to frame this as a temporary measure taken while proper guidance is obtained, not a permanent removal.

For the people who fill the away end at games or who have followed the Silkmen through every twist of their recent history, the priority is simple: that the club keeps functioning, keeps competing in the National League North, and emerges from this period with its stability intact. The board has asked supporters not to speculate and has promised further comment as soon as it is in a position to provide it.

For now, Macclesfield FC carries on — as it always seems to find a way to do.

Frequently asked

What has Robert Smethurst been arrested for?
Robert Smethurst, co-owner of Macclesfield FC, was arrested on 19 May in Wilmslow, Cheshire, on suspicion of controlling and coercive behaviour. He has been bailed pending further enquiries by Cheshire Constabulary.
Is Robert Smethurst still owner of Macclesfield FC?
Smethurst has been temporarily relieved of all duties at the club while the board seeks legal guidance. He remains part of the ownership structure but is currently suspended from his role.
What league do Macclesfield FC play in?
Macclesfield FC compete in the National League North, the sixth tier of English football.