DAVID Smith's five-year stay at the Manor Ground ended quietly and with only a passing interest from supporters when the 28-year-old midfielder yesterday joined Stockport County on a free transfer.
'Smudger', as everyone at the Manor called him, became surplus to requirements the moment Malcolm Shotton signed Paul Tait on a free from Birmingham last month.
Stockport were chasing Smith's signature last summer and Gary Megson made a double swoop yesterday by snapping up first Smith and then striker Tony Ellis for £25,000 from Bury to boost his team's fight against relegation from Division 1.
Smith, who made 228 appearances for Oxford after joining them for £100,000 from Norwich in July 1994, is set to make his Stockport debut on Saturday against his old club Norwich at Carrow Road.
Story date: Thursday 04 February
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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