Going cheap
By Adam Summers

Thursday 11th January 2007

WEYMOUTH skipper Ben Smith does not see how the Terras are going to recoup much money from
the sale of its squad in terms of transfer fees.

According to the ex-Hereford United midfielder, only himself and winger Dean Howell have contracts which stretch past the summer.

Smith was handed a new deal in December until 2009 and he is regarded as the club's most saleable playing asset. There have already been rumours that he has been offered to AFC Bournemouth for a fee of £20,000 but with Weymouth desperate to get him off the wage bill it is likely that possible suitors will hold out for a cheaper price or even a free transfer.

The Terras have transfer-listed their whole squad in a cost-cutting exercise to secure the future of the club.

In a press conference held at the Wessex Stadium yesterday it was revealed that they would replace those players departing with local talent living in a 50-mile radius of the town.

It was also confirmed that the Dorset out-fit would once again become part-time and that chief executive Gary Calder has taken over the day-to-day running of the team.

Smith said: "Except for Dean Howell and I, everyone else's contracts finish at the end of the season so the club cannot ask much for them.

`As for me, if they do not let me go then they will have to pay me a decent amount of money to get me off the wage bill because I am obviously contracted now until 2009. They should not have given me that contract."

The Weymouth players are still in the dark about the terms in which they can leave and Smith reckons it is time the club acted in a professional manner.

He said: "It would be nice if the decent thing was done and this was all explained to us by the chairman. We can speak to Gary Calder but he is just relaying a message at the end of the day."

As for filling the squad with local talent, Smith said: "No disrespect but if they do get in local lads who have not played at Conference level before they are going to get spanked every game. That is why there seems more to all this than meets the eye. I mean, why did they not wait and see out the season? We were doing well and in with a chance of promotion, and there is a lot more funding and sponsorship in League Two."

As well as AFC Bournemouth, Macclesfield Town, Burton Albion, Exeter City and Gravesend & Northfleet are also among the clubs interested in Smith. A return to Yeovil Town could also be a possibility.

Smith said: "I know Bournemouth are interested but nothing has been sorted. I have had loads of phone calls from other clubs as well and I have not had time to speak to them all because I am still trying to just get my head around everything.

"Once things are clear I will sit down and make a decision. I am 28 now so I will want a good financial package and I will also want to be playing regularly. The other thing that is certain is that I cannot afford to rush my decision either, there is a lot to take into consideration."

When asked whether most of the transfer-listed players will be allowed to leave on free transfers. Calder said: "They will all be dealt with as individual cases. Nothing has happened yet but there is plenty of interest.

"We have also already started talking to people about bringing in new players but we will cross that bridge when we come to it. We have got a bit of time to do that."

Weymouth's next game is scheduled for January 20 when they will travel to Halifax Town in Nationwide Conference National.