Skipper Smith amazed as squad put on transfer list
By Adam Summers

Wednesday 10th January 2007

WEYMOUTH skipper Ben Smith has expressed his amazement at the news that the entire Terras' squad has been put on the transfer list.

The players found out their fate at a meeting at their Redlands training ground at 2pm yesterday.

The Dorset outfit were due to fly out to Spain for a three-day break today but that has now been called off.

A press conference is being held at the Wessex Stadium this morning at 11am.

Speaking just two hours after the meeting at Redlands, Smith told Echosport: "We got to the meeting and the gaffer came in with Kevin Hales (assistant manager) and they had with them a pile of paper. We thought they were our schedules for Spain but instead they were copies of the press statement.

"They then told us that they had been relieved of their duties and that every one of us has been put on the transfer list.

"None of us had the slightest inkling and we all just sat there shocked. Before that we had all been talking about how much we were looking forward to
Spain.

"Obviously we are not going there now and we just do not know what is going to happen. We have no one to take training or anything.

"More is bound to come out of the Press conference and I we are just going to have to wait and see. All of us are transfer-listed but we do not know whether we can go for free or what. I only recently signed a new contract, I am settled here and I do not want to go but I suppose that is just football.

"You show loyalty to a club but then all of a sudden something happens that changes everything. All we can do is wait and see what comes out over the next couple of days."

Defender Tony James, who was signed last summer and has moved his family into the area, is also stunned.

He said: "We know the boss and his assistant have gone and it is to do with restructuring the club. We have all been transfer-listed but apart from that we do not know anything else.

"I mean we are all still contracted to the club and we have a game next week so we will just have to see what happens.

"Everyone was lost for words when they told us and obviously nothing has been organised at all for the next few days.

"This is the first time anything like this has happened to me and it is a part of football that many people do not see. When you have got a family like I have it is a bit of a worry."