Premiership: I'm so sorry - Smith

Leeds' Alan Smith has issued an apology after admitting he let his club down when he was sent-off in Sunday's draw with Aston Villa.

The striker was dismissed for the fifth time in his career after elbowing Villa's Alpay.

David O'Leary has described Smith's disciplinary record as "disgraceful" and has urged him to clean up his act.

The Leeds boss fears the striker's temperament could lead to him becoming "a big liability to both club and country".

But Smith insists his future is with Leeds, and is determined to repair his tarnished reputation.

"I don't want to play for anyone else," the England striker said.

"The last thing I want to do is put my Leeds career, or anything else, in jeopardy. I just want to go out there and play my football.

"I know that I let a few people down getting sent off, but I'm just trying my best, and I would like to apologise to all the lads and everyone else I let down. I didn't mean it."

Smith's impending three-match ban will see him ruled out of Premiership games against Blackburn and Leicester.

He could also miss the Worthington Cup fifth-round clash, providing Leeds beat Chelsea in Wednesday's fourth-round tie at Elland Road.

Smith also faces internal disciplinary action and a club fine.

O'Leary said: "I thought he let himself and the team down badly and he cost us a couple of very valuable points on Sunday.

"I'm very disappointed in him because what he is doing is no good at all. The Leeds fans may think it's great, but the Leeds fans should start to realise he's doing them no good because we're losing him for lots of vital games.

"For a lad of his age to be sent off five times already in his career, to me it's disgraceful.

"We're now going to lose Alan for three games and we don't need that, and it's not through anybody's fault but his own that we're going to lose him.

The Leeds boss feels Smith should follow the example of former Manchester United striker Mark Hughes.

He added: "He (Smith) should look at somebody like Mark Hughes who was competitive, but he stayed on the pitch. I know because I played against him often enough.

"So it's all down to Alan, who could become a very big liability to club and country."