Corney: Smith future uncertain

KOREY Smith

KOREY Smith will leave Boundary Park this summer — at the right price.

Influential midfield man Smith (23), who signed from Norwich last year after a successful loan spell, has 12 months left on his current deal.

Athletic turned down two bids for him earlier this year — one described as “massive” by manager Lee Johnson — and he played a leading role in securing safety from relegation.

But while an asset, Smith will be over the age threshold of 24 by this time next year — meaning he could walk away from Athletic without the club receiving any compensation. Since there are clubs sure to be keen on taking him now, Smith is likely to depart.

“When he originally signed, it was on his terms — two years and that’s it,” said chairman Simon Corney.

“If he had a further year left to run, we wouldn’t be losing him. But if a serious offer comes in, with a year left, then you have got to take it.”

Smith’s midfield partner James Wesolowski has already left the club to join Shrewsbury in Sky Bet League Two. Corney says Johnson could have offered Wesolowski a better deal if he had wanted to.

And the chairman pointed out that while Smith and Wesolowski were influential, they were also part of a team that struggled for large parts of the season in Sky Bet League One.

“As much as I like and respect the players, I don’t think there is any player we will badly miss,” he added. “Everyone is replaceable and the manager feels he can get better.”

No bids have come in yet for striker Jonson Clarke-Harris, Corney confirmed.

And he also revealed that Athletic — subject to the Football League’s strict salary cap management protocols, limiting spending at 60-per-cent of turnover — are down by 600 in season tickets bought ahead of the 2014-15 season, after already sustaining a big financial loss.

“A lot of those (season ticket losses) are kids, but there are plenty of adults too,” he added.

“We were also six figures down in the financial take. It is a very big blow and we have to budget accordingly.

“For argument’s sake, if we are £150,000 worse off then that is £90,000 less we can spend on players.

“Those fans may come back when the new North Stand is up and running and if we do well — and of course, we hope that is the case.”