Ex-Town Academy coach Ian Smith has been arrested on suspicion of deception. Smith, who was sacked by the Blues in April 2004, was questioned by police in November after a complaint made by a former Academy player.

According to reports, Smith is alleged to have been handed cash by a potential investor between March and July, leading to a complaint by a former Academy trainee no longer at the club having failed to make the grade. Police arrested Smith on November 14th regarding the allegation and released him on bail.

A former Spurs player, Smith was sacked from his position as Academy assistant director after an incident which occurred at the U18 Claudio Sassi Memorial Tournament in Italy in 2003/04.

Smith, who lives in Great Yeldham in Essex and whose son Marc was an Academy trainee alongside the likes of Darren Bent, Darren Ambrose, Ian Westlake and Matt Richards, is due to answer bail on January 10th at Felixstowe police station.

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