Luton Town have mutually agreed with midfielder Jonathan Smith to cancel the contract of the club’s longest-serving player.
Smudge, as he is affectionately known to all at Kenilworth Road, joined the Town from York City in November 2012 and signed permanently the following January.
Now 30, the former Forest Green and Swindon man was part of the Hatters team that beat Premier League side Norwich City in the FA Cup fourth round that season, and then – the following year – part of the squad that won back our Football League status as Conference champions.
During that glorious season he showed his trademark never-say-die commitment to recover from the broken leg he suffered at Barnet on Boxing Day and make his comeback on the final day of the campaign at Hyde.
In total, Smith made 176 appearances in a Luton shirt, scoring 11 times and he leaves with the best wishes and thanks for his wonderful service from all at the club.
Manager Nathan Jones said: “Smudge is a great lad and since I came to the club he has given me everything. He’s been an exemplary professional and helped us to develop the playing style and culture of the football club.
“With the players we were bringing in for this season, however, he is someone we felt we couldn’t give the kind of game time he needs.
“To be fair to him we made him available to enable him to progress his career elsewhere, and he leaves with all our best wishes for his future career.”
It is a sentiment echoed by anyone of LTFC persuasion. Good luck Smudge!