Smalley's loan move is right for all parties

The striker joined the U’s in the summer from Oldham, having been hugely impressive on loan at Chesterfield last season.

Smalley scored 12 goals in 28 appearances as Chesterfield won promotion into League One.

But he has managed to score just two goals in 24 games for United.

And Wilder said that the move works for all parties.

“I was one of a host of managers who was chasing Deane in the summer,” Wilder said.

“As a manager you sign players and sometimes it works – as it has done for the likes of Lev, Dubes and Whingy who came in the summer, but sometimes it doesn’t happen.

“And it hasn’t happened for Deane here.

“Be it because he’s a northern boy and he’s away from home, a lack of confidence or belief, it’s just not worked for him.”

As a manager, one of the toughest decisions to make is when the time is right to hold your hands up and admit ‘this signing hasn’t worked’.

United’s boss has reached that point.

“We have to take decisions on players,” he said.

“If he can go out and recapture his obvious ability somewhere else, I’ll do it for the good of the club and the player – we have to make tough decisions sometimes.

“I could stick my head in the sand and say ‘he will come good,’ and I hope it does, but it hasn’t so far.

“He hasn’t done as well as we expected him to, but it frees up some money and we can maybe get someone in.

“I just go back to the main point – we have not scored enough goals this season, and Deane’s been part of that.

“He goes to Bradford and one of three things happen – he doesn’t do well and comes back here, he does really well and that interests other people or he does really well and comes back here and adds to us again.”

As part of the agreement of the loan, Smalley is unable to play against Oxford when they take on Bradford on March 10.

Bantams boss Phil Parkinson said of Smalley’s arrival: “I’m delighted to have Deane on board.

“His arrival will increase competition for places.”