England striker Alan Smith has said he will leave Leeds United at the end of the season for the sake of his international career.
Leeds were effectively relegated from the Premiership yesterday after they lost 4-1 at Bolton Wanderers.
While Leeds, who are 18th in the 20-team league, can finish on the same number of points as Manchester City, who are immediately above them, if they win their last two games, they would still be relegated on goal difference.
"I'm not a first division player," Smith was quoted as saying in the Independent today.
"I've got an international career to think about and hopefully the Leeds fans understand that," added the 23-year-old, who was in tears after yesterday's game.
"For the foreseeable future I am a Leeds United player and we have to show pride and passion in the games that are left. Wherever I go, if I have to go, at the end of this season, hopefully I will still be able to come back to this club and it won't be the last time I am seen in a Leeds shirt.
"I want people to know I have given my all week in and week out and if I have to walk away no-one can say I've not been trying."
Smith had said last month he would leave Leeds, the club he joined as a trainee, if they were relegated. He has eight England caps and has scored international one goal.
Relegation is expected to trigger a sell-off of players in the squad of the financially troubled Yorkshire club, with goalkeeper Paul Robinson, Australian striker Mark Viduka and teenage striker James Milner among the most sought-after targets.
Leeds appointed an agent last week to handle any transfers on their behalf, a move criticised by Smith.
The club, which dominated English soccer in the late 1960s and early 1970s under manager Don Revie, had run up debts of around stg£100 million and faced going into administration.
The problems date back to a spending spree on players under former chairman Peter Ridsdale and ex-coach David O'Leary, their confidence buoyed by Leeds' progress to the Champions League semi-finals in 2001.