Having seen Nev Dickens and Geoff Moss come to Wrexham's rescue in August 2006 after 20 months in administration by taking control of the club, Smith continued to work without a contract.

Eventually fired in the days after Wrexham's FA Cup third round defeat at Derby County in January 2007, Smith said the writing was on the wall long before the fateful day but he is not bitter after being relieved of his services.

"I don't think Nev and Geoff never really intended to keep me, otherwise they would have offered me a contract," said Smith.

"I pushed for those two to take over because I thought they were the right people and off the pitch they have done a good job - unfortunately they have gone wrong on the pitch.

"I knew I was not particularly wanted - I knew that from about October. They had been in since July and I had a feeling when we had a meeting in October that it was obvious my time was up.

"But because I had no contract, they did not have to pay me what they did when I left and I am not bitter."

Smith admits that the signing of Juan Ugarte, who returned to Wrexham for a second spell at the start of the 2006-07 after 12 months out through injury, was key to his survival in the Wrexham hotseat.

"When I signed Juan, Kevin Russell said I shouldn't be giving him a two year contract," said Smith.

"But they wanted me to give him that long a deal. I thought that if Juan come good, and he scored goals, I would still be in a job.

"If not I thought I would have a problem.

"It was fairly obvious that by the second year I would not be here if he wasn't successful.

"But I feel sorry for Juan, and I phoned the lad up when he had to retire.

"That lad had a talent for scoring goals but unfortunately we could not get him fit second time around."

Brian Carey succeeded Smith but after a bad to the 2007-08 campaign which has just finished, Brian Little took charge last November.

Little could not prevent relegation and Smith was gutted to see Wrexham's 87-year unbroken membership of the Football League come to an end, but he is hoping the Reds can bounce back and go on to bigger and better things.

"It was more than a shame when you think of what the club has gone through to be up and running," said Smith.

"There have been no excuses the last couple of seasons.

"The money that has gone in - I never saw any of it - and to use 39 players last season is ridiculous.

"The club has got so many things going for it and to drop out of the league is a huge blow. Wrexham is far too big a club to go down.

"The support is so solid. The fans fought for the club. You find out about fans when you're in trouble and they stuck with their club.

"I am hoping Wrexham will come straight back up, but it won't be easy because it is a tough league to get out of with some good players.

"North Wales needs a league club and it's such a shame when you see Swansea get promotion and Cardiff to the FA Cup final.

"If Wrexham do get back up, I have said before, they can be a club at the bottom of the Championship or top of League One at a limit, but they can get there."