Midfielder Paul Smith has just moved on from Gillingham after eight successful seasons with the Kent side. He has arrived at Walsall where former England international Paul Merson is hoping the veteran can help fire the Saddlers back into the Championship. Clarky caught up with the Bescot new boy to see how he is settling in…
Q:
YOU'RE JUST ARRIVED AT WALSALL - HOW ARE YOU SETTLING IN AFTER BEING PART OF THE FIXTURES AND FITTINGS AT PRIESTFIELD FOR SO LONG?
A:
The lads have made me feel at home as much as possible - I even went fishing the other day with Simon Osborn and I really enjoyed it. It's something I haven't done since I was about 11! I found it quite relaxing - it beats sitting in your hotel room looking at four walls. We sat and had a chat and fished and it was quite nice. I've no idea where we went, it was somewhere near Wolverhampton. It's something I might do more often if it passes the time - I ended up catching more fish than Ossie anyway!
Q:
HAVE YOU MOVED UP TO THE AREA YET?
A:
My eldest daughter's at school and we don't want to take her out so it's a case of getting back to Essex whenever I can. Moving around is part and parcel of football and I know of players who have been all over the country with the family in tow. I've been fortunate that all my previous clubs have been down south but even now it's not a massive journey. I'm in a hotel but the journey takes an hour and 50 minutes from door-to-door. I have to pick and choose my times but the gaffer's quite lenient about having me in. If he can give me time off, he does and I do a bit at home. I'm experienced enough to know that you don't gain anything by just sitting at home, milking it. If I have an extra day off I go for a jog and a stretch. So far it's okay, but I'm looking to get a place nearer Walsall.
Q:
HOW DO THE TWO CLUBS COMPARE?
A:
At Gillingham, you could always rely on the chairman to come out with a quote in the paper, but here at Walsall I didn't know who the chairman was. That apart, the clubs are very similar in stature and the way things are run here is fantastic. Everything is done as professionally as it can be and it's a great little club. That's what made me decide to come here.
Q:
AND HOW DO THE MANAGERS COMPARE?
A:
My last boss was Stan Ternent and he's old-school - a bit of a ranter and raver. But he gets the best out of players doing things his way. Paul Merson is more laid-back about things. He was a major factor in persuading me to come here because of his big ambitions for the club.
Q:
THERE ARE A LOT OF MIDFIELDERS AT WALSALL, WAS THAT SOMETHING YOU THOUGHT ABOUT BEFORE MAKING THE MOVE?
A:
I think it's important to have competition otherwise you end up being complacent and your performance level can drop. But it's up to me and everyone else here to fight for places and to win a spot in the team on Saturday. If you are not in the side it's about keeping your head down and working until you get a chance.
Q:
YOU ARE 34 NEXT MONTH, HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND TO KEEP PLAYING?
A:
Thanks for reminding me! I love playing. You speak to people who have dropped out of the game and they say 'play for as long as you can.' As long as I feel fit and able, then I'll keep playing. Your body will tell you when to call it a day. But I can take heart from Andy Hessenthaler, and from the gaffer here. He played 90 minutes last week and he's 37 now. In this day and age it's about different lifestyles. You eat differently and drink differently. The drinking culture is not in the game these days, so players can play until they are much older and that's my aim.
