Smith Signs New Contract

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 23/07/2000

Smith Signs New Contract

News From 3rd May 2000

David Smith, who plays for Town in a wide left position has signed a new two year deal with the club. Smith, put pen to paper after prolonged negotiations with the club lasting two weeks.

Of the remaining quartet of players out of contract at the end of the season, Kingsley Black and Wayne Burnett have not yet received a new offer. Meanwhile Beverkey-born Mark Lever, who has served the Mariners 11 years since being an apprentice, a rare and laudable exception in these days of signing-on fees and big money moves, has turned down the club's second offer of a new contract. With the club not likely to make a further offer, one of the two parties must budge in the next few weeks, otherwise Lever will be available on a "Bosman".

Town manager Alan Buckley acknowledged Lever's contribution to the team but explained the situation as follows:

"Nobody is taking away what the lad's done in the last 11 years and he's been terrific since Christmas, but we have a structure at the club and while we might make one player happy within the team, we don't want to disrupt the feelings of another six or seven."

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