'I've watched him sign autographs for an hour and more outside Elland Road after a match. I've watched him smile without reluctance or artifice for a thousand cameras and scribble on a thousand notepads. I've seen him play his heart out for his dying club and wear his heart and his fury on his sleeve.
'I have seen him clutch that white shirt in his fingers and kiss the badge embroidered there. I won't be calling him a Judas or a traitor because he wants to leave now the grim reality of Leeds' headlong fall into misery is gripping the club and the city.
'Part of my brain tells me it is his right to escape the tribal hatreds that disfigure so much of football. It is his right to move on to another job like all of us do from time to time. But my conscience reminds me that when Jermain Defoe did the same thing to West Ham United 12 months ago, I was disgusted by his disloyalty and crass insensitivity.
'I would still have both of them in my England squad. Smith ahead of Emile Heskey and Defoe ahead of Darius Vassell. They both have the kind of hungry spirit that would have been invaluable in Portugal. But as Smith chases his move to Manchester United, I can't help but feel some sadness. Because I won't think of him in quite the same way again if he goes there.
'It's nothing against Sir Alex Ferguson's club, who apparently had two bids for Smith rejected yesterday. Good luck to them in their pursuit of someone who will strengthen their squad. But I still hope Smith has second thoughts. I hope he realises there's a world of difference between chasing a move to United and going anywhere else.
'You see, I thought Smith was different. Naive, I know. But I fell for all the badge-kissing and the romantic idea he felt the same passion for the club as the supporters who followed Leeds through all their troubles. I bought into the lie that he wouldn't screw the fans like other players had.
'I thought he valued their faith in him too much to toss it all aside for the one career move that would cut them to the quick. Because you see if Smith goes to Old Trafford, it will be different to Rio Ferdinand, Eric Cantona, Gordon McQueen or Joe Jordan doing it.
'If Smith goes there, it would be like Gary Neville signing for Liverpool or Steven Gerrard heading for Manchester United. It would be a betrayal of what is supposed to be at somebody's core. Sol Campbell leaving Tottenham for Arsenal is the closest parallel I can think of, but he never turned his loyalty to Spurs into his defining characteristic.
'I looked at Campbell on Saturday afternoon as he celebrated being part of a team that had won the championship and completed the league season unbeaten and understood that dreaming of days like this was what made him move across north London.
'I can see why people think there's nothing wrong with that. A player's career is short. He needs to maximise his earnings. I can see why people think Campbell owed Spurs fans nothing, why Luis Figo should feel unabashed at the thought of leaving Barcelona for Real Madrid. And I can see why Smith and his agent, Alex Black, who was once unceremoniously dumped by Defoe, should feel the move from Yorkshire to Lancashire will be the key that unlocks the door to a career laden with honours.
'Well, I'm sorry, but I still think there are some things that are more important than that. I still think the lasting adoration of a city and a club is worth more than a few medals. I think the affection of the fans is something that stays with you for the rest of your life, something to treasure more than a piece of metal hidden away in a cupboard.
'I don't condone the animalistic over-reaction of fans to players like Campbell. But nor do I think it is unreasonable for them to expect, or at least hope for, a tiny slice of respect in return. By courting a move to Old Trafford, Smith has destroyed the illusions of supporters who clung to him like a piece of wood that saved them from drowning.
'I thought he might care about that. Sadly, it appears I was wrong. There's still time for him to change his mind, but the damage has already been done.'