“There was shock, disappointment,” Smith said. “But ultimately we move on. It’s as simple as that, we have to, there’s a game on Sunday.
“He’s changed people’s lives and not just the players at the club, the staff the fans, he’s come in and been a massive part of what this club has achieved over the last three years,” Smith said.
“Knowing the person he is, he will say it was a real team effort and of course it was, everyone’s got to pull in the right direction – but he was a massive turning point in this club’s history.”
“Since the first day he walked through the door he made me believe that I could perform at a higher level than I already was,” said Smith, who Wagner made club captain following Huddersfield’s promotion.
“He’s done a hell of a lot for me and a hell of a lot for the club, but for me individually I’ll be forever grateful, in terms of the captaincy role and making me believe I could perform a lot better than I previously was. I owe him a lot for that.”
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