England striker Alan Smith has blamed Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale for the current crisis at the Elland Road club according to reports in the Daily Mirror.

Smith is said to be frustrated at the sales of playerssuch as Lee Bowyer, Rio Ferdinand and Jonathan Woodgate and says that manager Terry Venables is not to blame for Leeds current plight.

“It’s been difficult for him, but he’s handled it well,’ Smith said.

‘He’s never brought any of his troubles or thoughts on the training pitch. He’s been positive all along.”

“If any team in the country had lost six or seven of their best players, they would have struggled,” the striker added.

Smith’s attack comes in the wake of Leeds United’s defeat at Middlesbrough on Saturday, which leaves the Yorkshire club just 7 points off of the relegation places. And with increasing speculation that more players may leave in the summer, things are not looking good for a team that once had Champions league aspirations.