Dean Smith finally made it back into the First Division for the first time in ten years and was promptly relegated! The 32-year-old defender has amassed over 500 games during a career that has seen him take in Walsall, Hereford and Leyton Orient before an end of season move to Sheffield Wednesday. The Hillsborough club endured a desperate campaign and despite an upturn in fortunes that coincided with Smith's arrival it wasn't enough to prevent the Owls slipping into the Second Division. However, hopes are high for an immediate return to the First Division under the canny stewardship of Chris Turner, and givemefootball's Ian Clarkson spoke exclusively to Smith about his stint so far in Yorkshire.
Q:HOW DID THE MOVE TO HILLSBOROUGH ARISE?
A:I didn't know a lot about it! I was on the way back to Birmingham with my nipper to see my parents when I got the phone call - would you like to go to Sheffield Wednesday? I thought about it for about 20 seconds and started looking for the M1 straight away!
Q:WAS THE DEAL CONCLUDED FAIRLY SWIFTLY?
A:It all happened really quickly and fair play to Barry Hearn and Paul Brush as they said, for the service I had given the club, I could leave on a free transfer. I went to Sheffield on Thursday for talks, signed on Friday morning and was back on the coach down to London to play at Crystal Palace on Saturday!
Q:IT WAS AN ULTIMATELY DISAPPOINTING FINALE TO THE SEASON THOUGH?
A:I played 14 games at the end of the season. We were struggling when I arrived and we needed snookers to be honest but we ended the season as the form team - unbeaten in seven games, of which we won four but it was too late. The damage had already been done and I think we had only won something like four games all season when I arrived It was hard work and relegation was a real shame as it is a massive club and the fans deserve a far higher standard of football than Division Two.
Q:WHAT ARE YOUR EARLY IMPRESSIONS OF CHRIS TURNER?
A:I have been really impressed with him so far. He is a young manager and his strengths are he knows what he wants and he is going to stick to his game plan irrespective of anyone else.
Q:IS PROMOTION THE AIM IN 2003-04?
A:Definitely. We are looking to bounce straight back next season and that is what everyone, the fans, players and management all want. When we were bottom of the league and playing Grimsby we were still getting 25,000 fans in and that tells its own story. They will demand success next year and a team like Sheffield Wednesday shouldn't be in that league and we will need to be in the top six all season.
Q:YOU HAVE BEEN PFA REPRESENTATIVE AT YOUR LAST TWO CLUBS - ANY SIGN OF THAT HAPPENING AT HILLSBOROUGH?
A:No! Kevin Pressman is the PFA representative here and he has been at club for long time so I won't be muscling in on his territory.
Q:HAVE YOU FOUND ANY PROPERTY IN YORKSHIRE YET?
A:We have brought a house in Sheffield and it is a big upheaval, especially as we have got an eight-week old baby. The move didn't come at an ideal time but you I couldn't turn down this opportunity and I have got a 12-month contract to look forward to.
