Wakefield Wildcats chairman Michael Carter stunned by Brian Smith's exit

Carter revealed Smith has given no explanation for his decision to walk out just five games into the season and with Wakefield third from bottom in Super League.

Wakefield do not spend the full salary cap, but Carter said 19 of the current 31-strong squad were signed or re-signed by Smith and he insisted: “I could be mistaken, but I can’t ever recall having a request for something and saying ‘no’.

“I’ve tried to back him to the hilt with everything he has wanted, but I guess at the end of the day it was never enough.”

Carter admitted his relationship with Smith had become “frosty”, for reasons he declined to reveal, but said he wasstunned by this week’s events.

“Brian walked into the office, said he was terminating his contract and walked out and that was it,” revealed Carter, adding: “He has obviously got his reasons for leaving.

“He came across last year and did the job I asked him to do, keeping us in Super League. I don’t really want to focus on the negatives, we are where we are and we’ve got to move on quickly.

“We’ve just got to live with the hand we’ve been dealt and make decisions in the best interests of this club, like we always have done.”

Stuart Dickens, who was Smith’s assistant and had a spell as caretaker coach before the Australian arrived last June, will be in charge of the team for tomorrow’s trip to St Helens.

Carter reported “a vast amount of interest” in the coaching role since news of Smith’s exit broke and said he is keen to make an appointment as quickly as possible.