x

Former Blue Smith in Limbo - Ipswich Town News

Former Town defender Tommy Smith says he is in limbo after his short-term Sunderland contract came to an end last week without him having played a game.

The 30-year-old joined the Black Cats in February but hadn’t made his debut before the season was suspended in March, although had been an unused sub on two occasions.

"It was just really bad timing and unfortunately I'd only signed a short-term deal," Smith told the NZHerald.

"Clubs in League One don't know when games are going ahead again so the chairman said he wasn't going to exercise any extension which is fair enough, so I knew that was coming.

"But he also said I might be looked at again in the future once things are a bit clearer moving forward.”

The New Zealand international added: "I can't sign for anyone else until the transfer window opens [on June 10th] anyway.

"I've had a little bit of interest both in the UK and abroad but I think clubs are holding fire on making those decisions until they know what's going to be happening, [firstly] with this season and [secondly] when next season is going to be scheduled and that isn't even clear yet.

"So I'm in limbo a bit at the moment but all I can do is keep myself fit and be ready to take the next chance wherever that may be. I've got a lot left in me yet.”

Smith, who prior to joining the Wearsiders had been training with Town’s U23s to keep fit, and wife Leanne are currently back in Suffolk awaiting the birth of their first child in September.

"Our main priority is to make sure everything is safe and healthy with the pregnancy and go from there," he said.

"While we're settled in the UK, it would be ideal to stay here if possible. There's always motivation to stay as fit as you can because your career is based on you being fit and well.

"It's quite a challenge though when you don't know when you'll be training or playing again. You don't want to overdo your fitness work but you don't want to undercook yourself either.

"It'll just be a case of waiting for that next opportunity and taking it with both hands when it does come along, which I'm sure it will."

What to read next:

Potter: I Felt Our Physicality Would Cause Ipswich Problems
West Ham United head coach Graham Potter was pleased to finish the season by claiming three points via his side’s 3-1 victory over the Blues at Portman Road, but felt his team lost their way for a spell in the first half.
Chaplin: Summed Up a Lot of Our Season
Town forward Conor Chaplin believes the nature of the Blues’ 3-1 defeat to West Ham United was synonymous with their season.
McKenna: West Ham Executed Better Than Us in Both Boxes
Town boss Kieran McKenna felt his team showed a lot of things they’ve done well this season in their 3-1 final-day home defeat to West Ham but that the Hammers executed better in both boxes.
McKenna: Enciso Left Out as We Focused on the Lads Who Will Be Here Next Year
Town boss Kieran McKenna has revealed on-loan forward Julio Enciso was left out of the team which faced West Ham today as he was focusing on the players who will be at the club next season and also to allow the forward to prepare for Paraguay’s World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil, while Ben Johnson and Alex Palmer were among a number of players who have been ill over the last couple of weeks.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Delap Supporters' Player of the Year
Liam Delap was voted the Official Supporters Club’s Player of the Year, narrowly beating Jens Cajuste to the award.
Ipswich Town 1-3 West Ham United - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Ipswich Town 1-3 West Ham United - Match Report
Town’s final game of their one-year return to the Premier League ended in their 24th defeat of the campaign as they were beaten 3-1 at Portman Road by West Ham United. James Ward-Prowse gave the Hammers the lead two minutes before half-time following a mix-up in the Blues defence, then Nathan Broadhead levelled seven minutes after the restart but Jarrod Bowen restored the lead only three minutes later and Mohammed Kudus added a third on 87.
Ipswich Town 0-1 West Ham United - Half-Time
James Ward-Prowse’s goal two minutes before the break has given West Ham a 1-0 half-time lead over the Blues at Portman Road.
Walton Starts After Palmer Ill in Warm-Up
Town have been forced into a late change in goal for this afternoon's final game of the season against West Ham with Christian Walton coming into the team for Alex Palmer who was taken ill in the warm-up having initially made two changes with Conor Chaplin and Nathan Broadhead returning to the XI.