Crewe Alexandra have confirmed their veteran director of football Dario Gradi has been suspended pending an FA investigation into claims of historical child sex abuse in English football.
"Following discussions with the Football Association, Crewe Alexandra Football Club can confirm Dario Gradi is currently under an FA interim suspension from football," the fourth tier club said in a statement on Monday.
Gradi, 75, has been at Crewe for 33 years including 24 as manager.
The northwest club has been caught up in a growing scandal after former youth coach and scout Barry Bennell was charged with eight historical sex offences against a 14-year-old boy.
The Independent newspaper this month reported Gradi visited the parents of a Chelsea youth team player to "smooth over" a sexual abuse complaint against a scout when he was assistant manager at the London club in the 1970s.
"Having been notified by the Football Association on 25 November, I acknowledged my current interim suspension from football," Gradi said in a statement.
"I would like to reiterate that I will do everything within my power to assist all investigatory authorities," he added.
"As I have previously stated, aside from denying any wrongdoing it would be inappropriate and unfair on all parties to comment through the media at this time in connection with any allegations."
Chelsea last week issued a public apology to former striker Gary Johnson for sexual abuse he suffered as a young player and said it had been wrong to insist on a confidentiality clause when paying him compensation.
Johnson, 57, revealed the day before he had been abused by former Chelsea chief scout Eddie Heath in the 1970s, receiving 50,000 pounds ($A84,500) from the club in settlement in 2015.
Police said this month about 350 victims had come forward to report sexual abuse within soccer clubs across the country from the 1970s onwards and indicated the number was likely to rise.
AAP