Smith becomes Middlesbrough’s first Loans Manager

The Warrington-born defender will now be the club’s first Loans Manager, with responsibility for:

• Player development: Working to get the best out of players on loan.
• Regular communication: Keeping in regular contact with loan players and their clubs, watching them train and play to track progress.
• Career experience: Using experience from his own long playing career, with clubs including Huddersfield and Stoke, to provide advice and guidance to the club’s prospects.
• Integration back to Boro: Giving players the best opportunity to develop and eventually return to make a difference at Middlesbrough.

Smith, who made 47 appearances as a player for Boro, said: “I’m absolutely delighted. When Kieran (Scott, Head of Football) offered me the role, I didn’t have to think twice.

“It’s a fantastic football club and I’ve really felt a part of it since I arrived as a player, so I’m over the moon to be carrying on, albeit in a slightly different role.

“I’m really grateful to the football club for how they’ve been with me through the last two years. The support I’ve had through the injury and the retirement is something I’ll be eternally grateful for.

“The club have shown a lot of trust in me to ask me to do this role and it’s something I don’t take lightly. The role is all about getting the best out of the players who are out on loan. 

“I’ll be able to watch them train and play, be in regular contact and ultimately try to give them the best opportunity to come back and make a difference to the football club.”

Another pro went straight from playing to Loans Manager recently, when Jordan Rhodes took on the important role at Blackburn Rovers.