FORMER Swindon Town loanee Harry Smith says taking a break from football was the ‘best decision’ he has made as he plots his return to the game.

The 23-year-old arrived at the Energy Check County Ground on a season-long loan from Millwall at the beginning of last season by former Town chief David Flitcroft.

During his stay in Wiltshire, Smith notched three times in 19 outings for the club, before his tempestuous relationship with Flitcroft continued to deteriorate.

He returned to Millwall under a cloud of uncertainty in October and was back at Swindon briefly, before Flitcroft announced the striker’s loan had been terminated on Boxing Day.

Reflecting on his stint with Town, Smith, who has now been released by Championship side Millwall along with another former Town loan ace Harry Toffolo, believes it was a valuable learning experience.

“Obviously I’m disappointed with the amount of game time I got. I felt in certain aspects I should have got more but at the end of the day, that is part of learning,” he said.

“When I look back, I wouldn’t change it. Things happened. but I won’t go into that because it is in the past now.

“It’s just the way football goes. Sometimes you get on with your boss and sometimes you don’t. It was part of me moving forward and me growing up.

“I went back to Millwall on two occasions. People will make of that what they will, but I felt especially the second time especially, I was forced out.

“I loved it at the club (Town). I think that is pretty well known among the fans. The lads were top-class and it was exactly what I needed in my career. Having a difficult loan has stood me in good stead going forward.”

After returning to the Championship side, Smith announced on social media he was going to take step away from football, in order to seek treatment for a gambling addiction and mental health issues.

Gambling had previously been a problem for the 22-year-old, when he split his time between being full-time welder and playing for non-league side Folkestone Invicta, prior to signing his first professional deal at the Den in 2016.

Smith admits a change in lifestyle didn’t help his situation and says gambling as a problem isn’t taken seriously enough within the sport.

However, after receiving treatment in Portsmouth, the striker is looking to resurrect his career and put an arduous year, on and off the pitch, behind him.

“I took a break from football because I had some issues and stuff I needed to deal with,” added Smith.

“It’s the best decision I made to be honest. I knew it was right for me to take a break at the back end of last season.

“I went away, got some help with a few things and I’m in the best place I have been in since I’ve been in the game.

“Addiction is a massive problem in football. There are pressures that come with being a footballer and I don’t think fans realise how it can affect you.

“But like I said, I went away and got the help that was needed. Addiction in football is massive.

“I have been in football for two years, but I have seen how bad it can be and I don’t think it is taken seriously enough if I am honest.

“Gambling is something I suffered with before I was in football. Obviously, when you get into football, the money that you earn is different to what you'd have earned before, so the problem becomes much worse.

“It just got to a point where I didn’t know where else to go. I was at such at low point. The last year has been awful, not just in football, outside of football it has been hell.

“I needed to just go and get help with the way I was feeling and the thoughts I was having.

“If I didn’t go, I don’t know what the next step would have been.”