FORMER England international Kelly Smith has accused Sunderland Ladies defender Abby Holmes of deliberately attempting to injure her in a tackle.

Smith, who plays for Arsenal Ladies, will be sidelined for up to four months after she needed surgery to repair the ligament damage that was inflicted by a foul from Holmes in last month’s 4-1 win over the Lady Black Cats.

Holmes was sent off and received a three-match ban for the challenge, but 36-year-old Smith does not feel the punishment adequately reflected the severity of the incident.

And in a series of strongly-worded comments, the former England striker accused Holmes, who is a PE teacher at Conyers School in Yarm, of “not being good enough” to play in the top-flight of the Women’s Super League.

“The tackle was malicious and designed to do one thing only – to do serious damage,” said Smith. “I have watched the tackle twice since on video, so this isn’t an emotional verdict.

“It was a disgraceful tackle and one fully intended to hurt me. I have had a lot of reaction from both my team-mates and others in the game, and the verdict is the same – Holmes shouldn’t be playing in this league.

“Sure, she apologised as I got stretchered off, and Sunderland subsequently apologised to Arsenal. That’s all well and good, but she should be thinking more about how to tackle, not how to apologise.

“Those types of tackles end careers. Does she really want to end someone’s career? She’s clearly not good enough to be playing at this level, and while she gets a three-match ban, I, in effect, get a 15-game ban in the league as well as cup games on top.

“I am totally laid up, can barely move to make a coffee or have a shower and face the mental challenge yet again of recovering from a long-term injury.”

  • Was Holmes' tackle as bad as Smith is suggesting? Judge for yourself here:

Meanwhile, Trevor Benjamin has stepped down from his role as the head coach of Newcastle United Women’s Football Club.

“My tenure has been one of struggle,” said Benjamin. “The players have a bright future if they apply themselves in the right way and the situation off the field is managed correctly including coming under the NUFC banner, and stepping away from the club’s current format.”