Alan Smith's £7million transfer to Manchester United will be confirmed to the Stock Exchange on Wednesday morning with Danny Pugh heading to Elland Road as a makeweight in the deal.

In the wake of Leeds' recent relegation to the Coca-Cola League, many fans appreciated Smith's sentiments when he stated he needed to move to enhance his career, both at club and international level.

It is why Smith was feted following the final whistle of the club's last home match of the season earlier this month, a 3-3 draw against Charlton during which the 23-year-old scored from the penalty spot.

Never in their worst nightmares did the fans believe home-town hero Smith, seemingly a life-long Leeds supporter, would end up joining the Whites' bitter rivals in Manchester United.

Simon Jose, of the Leeds United Independent Fans' Association, said: "It's a stab in the back for all Leeds fans.

"But it reflects football as it stands today. The people at the highest level are in it for the money. It's about making as much as possible in as short a time as possible.

"There's simply no compassion or empathy with the fans any more. There are very few who seem to have any respect for the club or the badge.

"You cannot say you're a Leeds fan and then go to Manchester United. No Leeds fan would be seen dead in a Man U shirt, so Smith cannot be a Leeds fan.

"He will now go down on a long list of people who have betrayed Leeds United, and as for him saying he would one day come back, there's no way that will ever happen."

But given the turmoil off the field, with Leeds still managerless, the board in the middle of a power struggle and a host of other players due to leave, as Jose concedes: "Leave Smith to it because we've other problems to think about it."

It is a sentiment echoed by the chairman of the Leeds United Supporters' Trust, John Boocock, who added: "You can't rub the faces of the Leeds fans in it any more.

"We are at rock bottom and we have to start thinking about moving uphill again. What we should be worried about is that we've no manager and a bunch of clowns running the club.

"We need to start thinking about the problems we are facing now because, let's face it, we are not going to be playing Manchester United next season, not unless it's a cup game.

"The bigger issues for us are who will be the next Alan Smith, and who is going to manage the team.

"But it has become clear Smith is not in tune with the Leeds supporters. If he was a life-long Leeds fan, a hero to the people, then he would understand that what he is doing is stupid."

Ray Fell, chairman of the Leeds United Supporters' Club, is not surprised by Smith's defection as he said: "I remember Gordon McQueen saying he was a Leeds man for life just two weeks before he signed for Manchester United.

"But in wanting to leave Leeds, it put him (Smith) in a position of being able to join who he wants and that's what has happened.

"There's a certain element of the Leeds fans who will be angry and annoyed at his move, but most of them are mature enough to take this in their stride."