Ex-Town keeper's praise for Wray (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

SWINDON TOWN: Ex-Town keeper's praise for Wray

6:00am Wednesday 17th October 2012 in Sport

Phil Smith

FORMER Town keeper Phil Smith will always be grateful for the way outgoing chairman Jeremy Wray handled his departure from the County Ground at the end of last season.

Town boss Paolo Di Canio opted not to renew the stopper’s contract when it came to an end in the summer, after a six-year association with the Robins which saw him make more than 100 appearances.

Smith was not happy with the way his exit was stage-managed at the time, but was grateful to receive a phone call from Wray to show his appreciation for his time in Wiltshire, which he says is typical of the man.

“He always had time to speak to you and give you a pat on the back, and he was always very good to me and had the time to speak to me," he said.

“At the time at the end of last season I was very appreciative of the call he gave me, and he was a genuinely nice bloke who had the time to talk and wanted the best for everyone.

“You could see he wouldn’t talk rubbish and said how it was, and he always told me the truth.

“The end of the season was a hard time for me, and what happened, happened.

“Jeremy felt I should be told properly and not just in a letter, and I appreciate he took the time out to do that for me.”

Smith was disappointed to hear Wray was leaving the board, but believes the groundwork he laid will benefit the club for years to come.

"It is sad for the football club because there has been a lot of success at Swindon since Jeremy took over," he said.

"He brought in a high profile manager like Paolo Di Canio and we got promotion which was brilliant, and Jeremy played a very important part in that.

“When anyone who has that passion leaves it is sad, but he has ambitious plans which were coming to fruition.

“We got promotion in the first season, and a lot of the things that he has put in place will see the club prosper in the future I am sure.”