Yorkshire Post 11/11/06
Wise move to bring back Smith
Leeds United manager joins the race to sign former Kop hero as squad rebuilding picks up pace
RICHARD SUTCLIFFE
LEEDS UNITED have joined the race to sign Alan Smith with an audacious attempt to bring the Manchester United striker back to Elland Road on loan.
Dennis Wise moved quickly yesterday after learning that Sir Alex Ferguson would be willing to allow the 26-year-old to go out on loan after receiving an inquiry from Cardiff City. Manager Wise is desperate to bolster a side sitting second bottom in the Championship and the capture of Smith, who was a hugely popular figure with supporters before making a controversial £7m switch to Old Trafford in May 2004, would be a massive coup for the strugglers.Sources in Manchester have indicated that the Leeds-born striker is not keen on a move to Wales but would welcome the chance to return to a club for whom he made 228 appearances and scored 56 goals.Wise, who continued his Elland Road revolution yesterday by telling former captain Paul Butler to find another club, said: "Alan Smith would be someone I would be interested in. You know what you are getting with him and that he will give you everything that he can possibly give you."It would be a boost for the team, let alone the club and the fans. We are talking about a quality player who has done it at all levels. I am sure there will be 20 other clubs interested in Alan Smith, maybe other teams in the Premiership."He is the type of player we would love to have because he is a fantastic player. I want a certain standard of player, though sometimes you can't get players that you would like to get. I would like John Terry but I am not going to get him."Smith enjoyed an explosive start to his Leeds career by scoring with his very first touch in front of the Kop at Anfield to help United to a 3-1 victory in 1998. The striker was a leading member of David O'Leary's swashbuckling side that took Leeds to the semi-finals of the Champions League and UEFA Cup but had to be sold following relegation. Smith's decision to opt for United's bitter rivals turned the fans against him just a few weeks after they had carried the striker off the field shoulder-high at the end of the club's final home game in the Premiership. A broken leg sustained in the FA Cup defeat to Liverpool last February brought an abrupt end to his season and after returning to action last month, Smith is still lacking fitness, according to his manager.On Cardiff's interest, Ferguson said: "They phoned on Thursday morning and because of the fact we are no longer in the League Cup, I think a short-term loan would be ideal for him to get games."I put that to him. I do not think he has spoken to (manager) Dave Jones, but he has spoken to someone at Cardiff and is uncertain as to what he should do. It is an option to play games and that is the main thinking on our part because we are not in the League Cup."Should Leeds's audacious bid come off, Smith will return to a club in danger of being relegated for the second time in just three years. Wise is determined to halt the slide by moving players on and Butler was told that he is free to join another club.The 35-year-old had the Leeds captaincy taken off him a fortnight ago by Wise who said: "I have told Paul he is not needed at the club and can find himself another club. I told him this morning (Friday) and I think he was half expecting it."Paul is not part of my plans, he knows my reasons and that is that. "I have had a chat with him and I am looking to bring in one or two centre halves. There has to be some changes and I need to get some out."Butler seems certain to follow Sean Gregan out of Elland Road after the 32-year-old defender moved to Oldham Athletic on loan this week.Wise added: "It is nothing against Paul or Sean, but they are just not in my plans. I can only be honest with them both. "If I really do need him at the last minute, I would expect him to be a professional and do the right thing but at the present moment I do not need him."On the attempts to re-mould his squad and bring new faces in to add to loanees Graham Stack and Matt Heath, the Leeds manager added: "A lot of hard work has been put in to try and bring some new faces in. Unfortunately, it has not happened but we are still trying."
Wise move to bring back Smith
Leeds United manager joins the race to sign former Kop hero as squad rebuilding picks up pace
RICHARD SUTCLIFFE
LEEDS UNITED have joined the race to sign Alan Smith with an audacious attempt to bring the Manchester United striker back to Elland Road on loan.
Dennis Wise moved quickly yesterday after learning that Sir Alex Ferguson would be willing to allow the 26-year-old to go out on loan after receiving an inquiry from Cardiff City. Manager Wise is desperate to bolster a side sitting second bottom in the Championship and the capture of Smith, who was a hugely popular figure with supporters before making a controversial £7m switch to Old Trafford in May 2004, would be a massive coup for the strugglers.Sources in Manchester have indicated that the Leeds-born striker is not keen on a move to Wales but would welcome the chance to return to a club for whom he made 228 appearances and scored 56 goals.Wise, who continued his Elland Road revolution yesterday by telling former captain Paul Butler to find another club, said: "Alan Smith would be someone I would be interested in. You know what you are getting with him and that he will give you everything that he can possibly give you."It would be a boost for the team, let alone the club and the fans. We are talking about a quality player who has done it at all levels. I am sure there will be 20 other clubs interested in Alan Smith, maybe other teams in the Premiership."He is the type of player we would love to have because he is a fantastic player. I want a certain standard of player, though sometimes you can't get players that you would like to get. I would like John Terry but I am not going to get him."Smith enjoyed an explosive start to his Leeds career by scoring with his very first touch in front of the Kop at Anfield to help United to a 3-1 victory in 1998. The striker was a leading member of David O'Leary's swashbuckling side that took Leeds to the semi-finals of the Champions League and UEFA Cup but had to be sold following relegation. Smith's decision to opt for United's bitter rivals turned the fans against him just a few weeks after they had carried the striker off the field shoulder-high at the end of the club's final home game in the Premiership. A broken leg sustained in the FA Cup defeat to Liverpool last February brought an abrupt end to his season and after returning to action last month, Smith is still lacking fitness, according to his manager.On Cardiff's interest, Ferguson said: "They phoned on Thursday morning and because of the fact we are no longer in the League Cup, I think a short-term loan would be ideal for him to get games."I put that to him. I do not think he has spoken to (manager) Dave Jones, but he has spoken to someone at Cardiff and is uncertain as to what he should do. It is an option to play games and that is the main thinking on our part because we are not in the League Cup."Should Leeds's audacious bid come off, Smith will return to a club in danger of being relegated for the second time in just three years. Wise is determined to halt the slide by moving players on and Butler was told that he is free to join another club.The 35-year-old had the Leeds captaincy taken off him a fortnight ago by Wise who said: "I have told Paul he is not needed at the club and can find himself another club. I told him this morning (Friday) and I think he was half expecting it."Paul is not part of my plans, he knows my reasons and that is that. "I have had a chat with him and I am looking to bring in one or two centre halves. There has to be some changes and I need to get some out."Butler seems certain to follow Sean Gregan out of Elland Road after the 32-year-old defender moved to Oldham Athletic on loan this week.Wise added: "It is nothing against Paul or Sean, but they are just not in my plans. I can only be honest with them both. "If I really do need him at the last minute, I would expect him to be a professional and do the right thing but at the present moment I do not need him."On the attempts to re-mould his squad and bring new faces in to add to loanees Graham Stack and Matt Heath, the Leeds manager added: "A lot of hard work has been put in to try and bring some new faces in. Unfortunately, it has not happened but we are still trying."