Town boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed defender Tommy Smith is on the verge of moving to the Colorado Rapids, as revealed by TWTD almost a fortnight ago, and says he is hopeful of adding to his squad ahead of Saturday’s trip to Bolton Wanderers.
Quizzed on Smith’s situation, McCarthy said: "We’ll just wait and see. Colorado Rapids are in for him but I wouldn’t sanction any move for him unless I got somebody in that can play there.”
Is it a case of waiting for a signing to come in before the 27-year-old New Zealand international moves on? "Yes, I think it’s just an opportunity for him that he would like to explore, certainly.
"He wants to play, that’s the upshot of it and he wouldn’t be playing in front of Chambo and Adam Webster.
"And he’s at an age where he wants to play in the first team, so I think if he gets an opportunity to do that he’d like to do it.
"He’s had a tough time over the last while but he’s back, he’s fit, he’s training. So, if it does happen, it will be an end of an era but pretty much everything comes to an end.”
Smith, who McCarthy hasn't ruled out playing at Bolton on Saturday, has made 251 starts and 17 sub appearances for Town, scoring 23 goals having joined the academy at 16.
The switch to Colorado will see Smith link-up with Anthony Hudson, who was his New Zealand boss until November.
Is McCarthy, who wouldn't comment on whether Town would receive a fee for Smith, close to an addition to his squad? "Yes, I did say when I came in here that I was in looking after all the transfers and that’s pretty much the case. I’ve been on the phone, trying to organise a couple of things.”
Anything likely to happen imminently? "Yes, there is, I’m hopeful we’ll have somebody in for Saturday.”
The most likely replacement for Smith is Brighton’s Connor Goldson, who almost joined Town in August and who McCarthy asked Seagulls boss Chris Hughton about earlier in the month. However, the Blues manager wouldn’t comment on whether Goldson is the man set to come in.
"I wouldn’t speak to you about individuals, if it happens it happens, whoever comes in. And if they’re here today in regard to the game on Saturday, read our website.”
He did confirm, however, that the player coming in would be a loanee: "Yes, it would be, whatever happens will be loan deals.”