Smith defends Viduka
The Australian striker has come under fire from supporters following his sending off in the defeat to Bolton at the weekend which all but condemned Leeds to life in Division One.
Viduka was sent off for two bookable offence with Leeds winning 1-0 only to see Bolton roar back to win 4-1 and his actions have been criticised by a number of fans.
"I feel sorry for Mark. A lot of people have said a lot of things about Viduks but against Bolton you saw how much it meant to him," said Smith.
"Everybody wants to do well and win, unfortunately that kind of desire resulted in Mark getting sent off.
"Nobody should pick him out as a scapegoat - he is a world-class player and has been outstanding for us.
"I am not going to blame him for anything. And nobody in our dressing room had a go at him for what happened.
"He has given everything he's got and hopefully people will appreciate that if he leaves in the summer."
Meanwhile, Leeds chairman Gerald Krasner has conceded that the club will have to offload up to 11 players in the wake of their relegation.
The cash-strapped club will have to trim their wages and Krasner admitted up to 11 players could be on their way out over the summer with the club to hold a board meeting on Tuesday to discuss plans for next season.
"The fans realise we cannot keep all the players we would like to," said Krasner.
"You only need a squad of 18-20 players. But if we sell every decent player we've got then we shall do a Sheffield Wednesday and just go down and down.
"So we have got to make sure that we get a balance. In the First Division you don't have big transfer fees or wages of £1m a year.
"So we could strengthen the team within a budget of player sales."
One player who will not be leaving Elland Road in the mass exodus is James Milner.
Leeds director David Richmond insists the highly-rated teenager who has attracted interest from Tottenham is not for sale.
"This club has a £38m wage bill and the average for Division One is £9.5m. But we won't be doing any panic sales," said Richmond.
"James Milner is part and parcel of the affordable future of Leeds United Football Club. I can categorically tell you James is not for sale."
