First there was the search for their next full-time head coach.
Now Brisbane Roar are looking for a new skipper after agreeing to release Matt Smith to Thai first division club Bangkok Glass on a two-year deal.
Barely two weeks after Mike Mulvey’s controversial dumping, Smith is also on the way out after the Roar made the tough call to let him take up the Thai deal with 18 months left on his Brisbane contract.
Smith will play his final game for Brisbane away to Adelaide on Friday night.
Matt McKay and Jade North are considered the prime candidates to replace him as skipper.
Smith acknowledged it was not ideal to leave the club just three games into interim coach Frans Thijssen’s tenure.
Thijssen has moved Brisbane to the cusp of the top six but has already been told he won’t be considered when the Roar install Mulvey’s full-time replacement next season.
Brisbane are also trying to recover from a horror season start without playmaker Thomas Broich (ankle) and Michael Theo (wrist).
“It’s not easy for them. They are going through a difficult time but they have been fantastic,” Smith said.
“I think it is the right time for me and my family and our long-term future.”
The Roar helped resurrect England-born Smith’s career after he signed with ill-fated A-League club North Queensland five years ago.
“I was thankful at 27 to get an opportunity to play in this country,” the defender said.
Smith hoped to leave on a winning note.
“Knowing it is my last game is not going to be easy but hopefully the club can continue to kick start the season,” he said.
“Frans has a chance to steer us to a good position before the end of the season, and there’s the Asian Champions League as well – I wish the club all the best.”
Brisbane football director Ken Stead said the club received a formal offer overnight and agreed to the terms of the release for an undisclosed transfer fee.
“We didn’t want to lose our captain and we are sorry to see Matt leave,” he said.
“It is a significant loss …(but) the January transfer window is a timely opportunity for the club to strengthen our squad for the challenges ahead.”
Smith made 112 appearances for the Roar after joining in 2010-11 and was named captain in August 2012.
He featured in Brisbane’s three championships (2011, 2012 and 2014) and two Premier’s Plate triumphs (2010-11 and 2013-14).
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