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Super League: Tim Smith and Shannon McPherson leave Salford Red Devils

Image: Tim Smith: Spending the remainder of the season on loan with Wakefield Wildcats

Salford have parted company with Australians Tim Smith and Shannon McPherson to make room on their salary cap for the arrival of New Zealand Test full-back Kevin Locke.

The Red Devils have loaned half-back Tim Smith to former club Wakefield Wildcats for the remainder of the Super League season, while McPherson has returned to Australia for family reasons.

Australian Smith was one of the first signings made as part of owner Marwan Koukash’s overhaul nine months ago but has struggled to make the desired impact.

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Former Wigan man Smith could now be in line to make a second debut for the Wildcats in Friday’s home league clash against bottom club London Broncos.

Red Devils head coach Iestyn Harris has wished Smith all the best, while French youngster Theo Fages is expected to take his place at scrum-half for Sunday’s clash with Bradford.

“Tim is obviously a quality half-back but unfortunately he hasn’t settled into life here as well as everybody hoped,” Harris told the club’s official website.

Future elsewhere

“We have talked at length with the player and his agent and see his immediate future elsewhere. He returns to the Wildcats with our very best wishes and we thank him for his efforts this season to date.”

We have talked at length with the player and his agent and see his immediate future elsewhere.
Harris on Smith

The 29-year-old becomes James Webster’s first signing as Wakefield’s head coach following Richard Agar’s departure last week.

McPherson has also left the ambitious Red Devils to help free up salary cap space for the impending arrival of Locke, who has secured an early release from the New Zealand Warriors.

The 25-year-old was due to join Salford on a three-year contract from November but has failed to break into the Warriors team this season and has reportedly fallen out with new coach Andrew McFadden.

Chief executive Martin Vickers confirmed: "Shannon asked to be released for family reasons and they are two of the club's biggest earners so clearly it does create capacity to enable us to complete the signing of Kevin Locke."

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