Its been a while. A promotion at work coinciding with a new product launch has consumed me lately. I’ve wanted to comment on the Chorley defeat and John Rooney’s ‘honeymoon period’, however Macclesfield FC’s club update issued on 30 September is far more worthy of discussion.
In case you missed it, and it seems some people have (or at least the significance of it!), the club has announced that:
“… a behind-the-scenes restructure which we will be implementing over the course of the coming weeks. The aim of this is to aid our evolution as a football club, as we strive towards our ultimate ambition of achieving EFL status.”
Sounds good so far, right? It continues:
“It also means that after five years of leading the Club on a day-to-day basis, Chairman Rob Smethurst will now be able to enjoy a little more free time to progress his other business interests. Rob will retain his roles of Director and Owner of course, but will be diluting the amount of time he commits to the Club in lieu of the aforementioned appointment(s).”
Whoa! Hold on a second. That sounds less good, right?
Within the same statement, Smethurst was quick to reassure supporters that: “… please be assured that this is not some subliminal message that means I am about to leave! Quite the opposite in fact – because by making this decision, I feel that I am helping to ensure that this wonderful Club reaches its undoubted potential in the not too distant future.”
Cutting to the chase
We have to take Rob Smethurst’s words at face value, but undoubtedly this decision signifies a cutting of the apron strings by a man who supporters will be forever grateful to for giving them their club back.
A guy whose generosity has touched the hearts of a community, who has been brave enough to put a significant amount of money (and time!) into a major turnaround project when many questioned his wisdom. And he succeeded on every level with the help of some wonderful employees and volunteers.
Rob Smethurst IS and HAS BEEN everything to Macclesfield FC. He had already earned the respect and appreciation of everyone connected to the club, but this reached new heights by how he demonstrated such class and dignity in handling the manner of Robbie Savage’s departure to Forest Green.
But three months on from the still seismic shock of Savage’s exit, Silkmen supporters must now prepare themselves for the reality that Smethurst too will no longer be the 24/7/365 talisman of the football club that has consumed him for the last five years.
Let that sink in.
The bigger picture
Social media is not always the most accurate barometer of Macclesfield FC supporter sentiment, but the club’s statement has been received positively by a handful who see it as prudent “future-proofing” or “succession planning”. I’m not so sure.
I’ve been amazed by the general apathy and radio silence from many fans who seemed more fixated on whether they should have been supporting Forest Green or Altrincham when the two teams recently played each other. I just don’t understand it.
The club’s statement: “…we will be strengthening our wonderful behind-the-scenes team by appointing either an individual, or a team of individuals to manage all day-to-day financial decision-making” suggests a notable shift in emphasis.
It also begs the question, isn’t that what the Board of Directors are supposed to be doing now? The timing of this announcement also feels odd – approaching a quarter of the way through a season.
In the aftermath of Savage upping sticks, Smethurst defiantly reaffirmed his determination to see the Silkmen achieve their ambition of returning to the Football League, even as far as admitting that his passion had been reignited by the manner in which his best friend had left him high and dry.
With the greatest of respect to Rob, his decision to “dilute the amount of time he commits to the club due his other business commitments..” somewhat contradicts his previous comment.
I’m not suggesting that Smethurst no longer has the best interests of the club at heart, far from it, but from a personal perspective it would seem that he has reflected on the last three months and made his decision to pull back from the club’s day-to-day activities with a clearer head.
Has Smethurst taken Macclesfield as far as he can, or as far as he wants to?
In a previous Silkmen News article discussing the club’stransfer activities, Smethurst was candid about the financial considerations and challenges of Macclesfield transitioning to the National League North, with an inflated wage budget that dwarfs those of many teams in the division.
I didn’t quote him directly because my view is that the club prefers to issue communications through its official channels. Nevertheless, our 20-minute conversation gave me much food for thought about the modern day pressures and expectations of owning a football club which can be a lonely and expensive place, particularly when things don’t always go to plan.
Macclesfield FC’s previously published financial report and financial statements for the year ending June 2024 (published on 17 April 2025), revealed a generally solid and optimistic picture, with total income increasing to £2.4 million from £2.1 million in 2023, and gross profit rising to £1.9 million from £1.6 million during the same period.
However, lest some supporters forget / conveniently overlook, the Silkmen still lost in the region of £250,000 in 2023-24, and Rob Smethurst effectively wrote off over £2 million lent to the club by converting loans into shares.
At the end of the day, Smethurst is a businessman – a mightily successful and shrewd one who made his fortune in the motor industry. Even the most passionate, committed owner though must question what he’s doing when funding a wage bill that is more than double that of many National League North clubs for a team currently sitting in mid-table.
More questions than answers
Given everything he’s put into Macclesfield FC, no one can begrudge Smethurst’s decision to take a step back and hand the day-to-day running of the club to others. The logic is clear, both for Smethurst and the club, but it’s hard not to be apprehensive about the future and this next decision will have a massive influence on the Silkmen’s short and medium term ambitions. They have to get it right.
How long will it take to complete the internal restructure? How far down the line is it?
Are the jobs of the club’s back-office staff likely to be at risk?
Is Smethurst planning to sell his shares?
What qualities and experience is the club looking for in the people it will entrust to run it?
How fundamental is it that those tasked with managing the day-to-day operations have experience of running a football club?
Who now has the final say on the transfer budget, in addition to player incomings and outgoings?
Is Smethurst still responsible for the hiring and firing of the Silkmen’s employees, including manager John Rooney?
Does Smethurst’s decision to step back impact the club’s ambition to transition to a full-time training model from next season?
What criteria is the club using to select fan representatives over the “next few weeks” to have their say on the future direction of Macclesfield FC?
You get the jist. I’m not one to be a glass half full, or a glass half empty person. The club’s proposed restructure could well herald a bright, positive and exciting new era of success on and off the field, following what has been an incredible journey so far.
But if you’re sat on the same side of the fence as me – that Smethurst has taken Macclesfield as far as he wants to (rather than as far as he can), then you’ll be viewing the club’s impending restructure with a lot more scrutiny.
An excellent assessment , the more cautious elements are essential but based on the kind of person Rob is I would say that we have a really bright future ahead of us!