Hero Matt on his way

VITAL GOALS . . . Matt Smith’s strikes helped to make the club money and keep them in npower League One.

Latics boss accepts loss of star striker
ATHLETIC are ready to bow to the inevitable and see Matt Smith go elsewhere this summer.

The Chronicle can reveal that an improved offer put to the 11-goal striker - which significantly increases his currently modest salary - will not be enough to keep him at Boundary Park.

With Blackburn rumoured to head the queue of suitors, manager Lee Johnson has admitted defeat in his effort to retain the out-of-contract player.

“Being honest, I fully expect him to move on,” said Johnson, of a player whose work did much to preserve Athletic’s npower League One status.

“We have made him a very good offer. He hasn’t turned around and said ‘no’ to it, but his agent has indicated there are a few clubs in for him.”

While Johnson believes he could help the 6ft 6in, 23-year-old target man’s game if he stays, he also understands Smith’s desire to get a lucrative deal.

“Football is all about who’s hot and who’s not. I am only six months on from being a player myself. I know exactly how they feel.

“Fans might be frustrated by it, but everyone should know that there are an awful lot of good players out there wanting to move on this summer. And there is certainly no bitterness whatsoever with Matt.”

Smith joined Athletic two years ago from non-league Solihull Moors and rose to national prominence with a series of dramatic strikes — including two goals in the 3-2 home win over Liverpool in the FA Cup and one to draw against Everton in the subsequent tie — goals that brought in a windfall of unexpected cash for the club in fees and prize money.

The League One player of the month for April, Smith turns 24 before his contract runs out at the end of June and Athletic aren’t entitled to compensation from any club he joins.

One player who could yet be on his way to Boundary Park is Korey Smith. The midfield man played an impressive 10 games on loan for Athletic at the end of the season and was one of 10 players released by Norwich yesterday.
“I would love to have him,” said Johnson last month, admitting a lot of other things that had to happen for that to become reality.

The Canaries also relased another former Athletic loan player, Tom Adeyemi.