Should He Go or Should He Stay?

Why Bristol City may be playing a dangerous game over Korey Smith's future
The popular midfielder becomes a free agent on June 30 with no sign, as yet, he will remain a Robins player beyond that date

It’s somewhat understandable given we are in the midst of a global pandemic which is tearing the very fabric of modern football apart but Bristol City’s most influential midfielder, maybe even player, of the last decade is out of contract in seven weeks.

Korey Smith’s injury-time tackle on Fulham's Aleksander Mitrovic on March 7 could well prove to be the last piece of action Robins fans get to see of the 29-year-old in a red shirt, with his deal expiring on June 30 and, as it stands, no definitive sign it’s going to be extended.

There are numerous caveats to this, starting with the fact that absolutely nobody truly knows what is going to happen to the 2019/20 season from Premier League down to League Two, which will be a major influencer in deciding what should happen to out of contract players.

Uncertainty rules regarding next week in football, let alone the month of June and beyond. Owners, CEOs and managers simply cannot plan for next season, until they know what will happen to the current campaign.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson could provide some degree of clarity today when he outlines his next steps for lockdown but which was football turns is still loaded with obstacles regarding testing, player safety and integrity.

Should the season re-start and run beyond June 30, Smith may well be afforded a short-term deal to get the campaign completed for more thorough talks over where his future lies for 2020/21 and beyond.

There is also the concept of optics and the fact that having furloughed non-playing staff and agreed for wage cuts across the board and deferrals in the squad, announcing a bright, shiny new contract may be not be the best PR move, with some much uncertainty surrounding football and society.

Smith will not be alone in that scenario.

Since Lee Johnson confirmed on March 11 (completely coincidentally two days before lockdown) that contract talks involving all players – Smith, Famara Diedhiou, Niclas Eliasson and Ashley Williams as immediate examples – will be placed on hold until the end of the season, the landscape has changed dramatically.

Mark Ashton forecasts austerity and EFL chairman Rick Parry has obvious concerns about a £200m collective blackhole in the accounts of the EFL’s 71 clubs in September. Teams are going to have to be sensible and watertight with their financial decisions from now.

Squads will have to smaller and the concept of wages bills either matching or exceeding income – City being at 101 per cent in that particular ratio – will have to end. If they don’t, clubs will cease to exist.

In that context, what was a straightforward equation for City and Smith has now become increasingly more complicated and layered.

As Johnson has maintained all season, if the 29-year-old can prove his fitness and durability after a 15-month absence with two significant injuries, the contract decision is an obvious yes.

Smith has started 11 of a possible 19 Championship matches since returning to the squad in late November, and although there was a slight hiccup in February with fluid on his knee, has remained a part of the first-team squad and unquestionably made the Robins better.

Not only with his ability on the field but, as Johnson has admitted, his leadership and guidance to the younger members of the squad, in particular Han-Noah Massengo.

In the pre-Covid-19 days, Smith would have played the remaining nine games of the season and the contract would have been waiting for him at the end of the season.

However, City could well be robbed of those nine remaining fixtures denying Smith a chance to extend his appearances towards the 20s – i.e getting over the 50 per cent mark for City’s season - and preventing Johnson from getting a proper assessment of his long-term prospects.

Also, with the every-changing economic climate, offering contracts to players who have lingering injury concerns now carries an added risk.

However, in spite of all this, from a symbolic perspective, allowing Smith to leave for absolutely nothing will be seismic.

The last man standing from the 2014/15 promotion season, Smith has helped provide consistency, not only on the field, but in the squad as a whole. There is a calming reassurance and recognition with everything he does, on and off the field.

He has, throughout the lockdown, been the dominating public face of the dressing room and the club have used his social media activity as a prominent tool to maintain their content and keep the fanbase engaged.

There may not be any sentiment in football but to then wave goodbye to such a public figure and ambassador would appear callous, before you even take into consideration what he brings to the team.

Johnson has bemoaned the absolute sledgehammer that has been taken to his leadership group: Marlon Pack, Adam Webster, Josh Brownhill, Bailey Wright and Smith - the absolute pillars of that - could all be taken away inside 12 months. That has a huge and lasting impact on a squad, particularly one so young.

Liam Walsh, Joe Morrell and James Morton have bright futures for the club, and City fans have reason to be excited, but throwing that trio into a midfield unit shorn of the services of Smith is risky; a man Johnson has frequently remarked is "world class at putting out fires".

But here is perhaps the real crux of the matter because, taking the situation at face value, namely that Smith will be a free agent on June 30, are City not playing a dangerous game with his own loyalty.

For while the newly shaped financial landscape is unknown, there is one absolute truth about it: clubs won’t be able to spend beyond their means.

City have worked hard at creating and developing a structure with the academy, loan system and smart recruitment that leans toward self-sufficiency so they’re already one step ahead of many clubs.

However, if you’re a Championship team, shorn of the majority of your transfer budget and looking for value in the market, Korey Smith on a free transfer has to be a deeply appealing deal to consider.

An experienced performer with almost 200 Championship appearances under his belt, who can be a dressing room leader, is incredibly coachable in his understanding of tactical instructions and is just an all-round good guy to have around a football club. Who wouldn’t be interested?

Yes, the same questions will be raised about fitness, age and longevity, but the longer Smith remains on the board, the bigger the gamble City are playing in terms of his status beyond this season.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-playing-dangerous-game-4120102

 

If he is fit enough, he is good enough then keep him, if he is going to be an unfit passenger then there is no room for sentiment, sorry he has to go.