Door is left open for a Smith recall

TOMMY Smith could return to Sunderland – despite the Black Cats announcing last week that he had left the club.

The New Zealand international defender says Sunderland owner Stewart Donald has left the door open for him to return further down the line - when the club discovers when football will resume again.

Smith joined the Wearsiders as a free agent in February but only on a short-term deal which ran until the end of the season.

With the season suspended since March 13 due to the Covid-19 crisis, Sunderland do not yet know whether it will resume or if it will be cut short and they will not return to action until the 2020-21 campaign.

In those circumstances, the Wearsiders decided not to extend Smith’s contract – a decision the player accepts.

However, Donald told the 30-year-old there was a possibility they would look at the situation again when there is more clarity about the future.

Smith said: “It was just really bad timing and unfortunately I had only signed a short-term deal.

“Clubs in League One don’t know when games are going ahead again so the chairman said he was not going to exercise any extension which is fair enough, so I knew that was coming.

“He also said I might be looked at again in the future once things are a bit clearer moving forward.”

Smith says he has already had two clubs show interest in him, but he knows no one is likely to make any quick decisions with so much uncertainty surrounding football at present.

He added: “I have had a little bit of interest both in the UK and abroad.

“However, I think clubs are holding fire on making those decisions until they know what is going to be happening with this season and when next season is going to be scheduled - and that is not even clear yet.

“So I am in limbo a bit at the moment.

“All I can do is keep myself fit and be ready to take the next chance wherever that may be. I have a lot left in me yet.”

Smith left MLS side Colorado Rapids in November and trained with Ipswich Town, the club where he started his career, to stay fit during the winter.

Smith did not make a competitive appearance for the Black Cats before football shut down.