Five figure fee for Smith

Below is part of a post from the Weymouth Forum. we reprint this beleiving it to be creditable:

As for Ben Smith, Ben was, as I am sure you are all aware the highest paid player at the football club with a contract taking him through to June 2009. With the decision that Martyn (Harrison -chairman) had taken to bring future sustainability to the football club, THIS ALSO INCLUDES SEASON 2007-2008.

Ben was talking to clubs in the football league and initially like Lee Elam, Steve Tully and Shaun Wilkinson had Ben agreed personal terms prior to the 16th January he also would of gone on a free transfer. But as soon as Martyn made his decision to honour all players? contracts, Ben was taken off the transfer list.

Ben had been offered better personal terms than we were currently paying him and Martyn along with Jason agreed if an offer came into the club which was acceptable, the club would not stand in his way.

Ben on the 18th January handed in a transfer request to the Chairman. This brings us to where we are today. Hereford Utd have asked us, as part of the agreement not to disclose the figure they have paid for Ben, it is not all cloak and dagger, we have to respect Hereford's wishes but it was a five figure fee which, with the best interest of the future sustainability of the club we accepted.

---