Gray deserves more support: Smith
Alan Smith warned that boss Eddie Gray is being “punished for his loyalty” to Leeds and called on the club’s new owners to guarantee his future beyond the end of this season.
Gray was brought in to lead the club’s fight against relegation after Peter Reid became the latest in a depressing series of managerial casualties at Elland Road back in November.
Smith has a close bond with the Scotsman and feels his loyalty has been exploited by the club, who have given him no public pledge of long-term support beyond the end of his contract this summer.
“I’m a little bit disappointed. At a time when the club is going in the wrong direction, Eddie has always tried to pick up the pieces,” declared the England striker.
“Years and years ago, when he got sacked as manager, he had nothing to play with.
“Once again now, he’s getting punished for his own loyalty as not many managers would have taken over at that stage in the season.
“I hope that people appreciate how much he does care about the club and what a difficult job he’s taken on.
“I’d like to see him being given money to spend and an opportunity to do well at a club that he really cares about.”
Whether that happens depends not only on the club’s new owners, but also on whether Leeds manage to avoid relegation.
They have just eight games left to save themselves from the drop, starting with a crucial encounter with Leicester on Monday.
Smith nevertheless warned: “We seem to lack a bit of fight, to be honest. That’s something that has been missing all season, we just seem to roll over in games.
“But from a managerial point of view, once Eddie Gray sends us over the white line, there’s not much else he can do.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for him as a manager and a person in general. Ever since I’ve been at the club, he’s always been there and given me a telling-off when I’ve needed one and put an arm round me when I’ve needed one too.”
Smith, 23, confirmed he would reluctantly leave Elland Road this summer if the club are relegated “for the sake of my England career“.
However, while he wants to remain if they stay up, he accepts that the decision on his future may already have been taken by the new owners as he is one of the few valuable assets at the club.
In the meantime, he will continue to give his all, having also attempted to control his notoriously fragile temperament following a plea from Gray not to leave himself suspended for key games.
“The manager said to me that he can’t afford to not have me playing, which is good to hear. He just said to make sure that I stay on the pitch,” revealed Smith.
“It can make you focus, especially now. Every time that I go out on the pitch, everyone is looking for me to put in massive performances and be consistent.
“I’ve been booked nine times this season, which is good for me, and no red cards yet. Eddie has been good with me and said he needs me in the team every week. That’s all the focus I need.”
Smith is also relieved to have been restored to the front-line at Elland Road, having been used in midfield for much of the past two seasons, even if that was where he played for England in Sweden.
“Since I’ve gone back up front, it’s given me a new lease of life. I played in midfield for two years and that was probably two years too long in doing a job for the team,” he insisted.
“But since Eddie Gray has come back in charge, he’s put me and Mark Viduka up front together and I’ve really enjoyed it.”
