Former All White Captain Tommy Smith says he takes full responsibility for the situation that saw him blacklisted by All Whites coach Anthony Hudson.
Earlier this year Smith missed selection for a national training camp and Hudson confirmed that he would no longer consider the 26-year-old due to questions surrounding his commitment to the national side.
Speaking exclusively with Andrew Gourdie on RadioLIVE, Smith admits that he acted highly unprofessionally towards the All Whites coach in the period leading up to Hudson's comments.
"I didn't get back to him within the time frame he had asked," he said.
"By that point he had named his squad - It's my fault entirely really and I can only apologise for that."
At the time, England-based Smith was dealing with a contract issue at his club, Ipswich Town, which has since been resolved but refuses to use that as an excuse.
"Obviously my club career is where I earn my money; it's my profession and it was a worrying time not having a contract in place. Thankfully that got sorted.
"I'm grateful that he managed to come over and have a chat to me and give me the opportunity to say what I wanted to say and thankfully he has given me another chance."
Smith also confirmed that he had issues with New Zealand football in the past, but that is well and truly behind him.
Ahead of the world cup playoff with Mexico in 2013, Smith was forced to miss a club game in order to make the teams assembly deadline, outside of the transfer.
"The time we were playing Mexico in the inter-continental playoff, there was no compromise from New Zealand Football. It got to me. The International windows are there to avoid conflicts."
"Going back there was issues with members of the organisation at New Zealand Football but that's all been solved now. Those people aren't there anymore and we have moved on from that. This time it was simply miscommunication."
However speculation that Smith was close to quitting international football because of his frustrations at the time was off the mark.
"I was never going to do that [quit]. I may have said a few things in the heat of the moment but I would never have retired there and then."
On questions around his past commitment to the side, Smith pointed to a two-year period post the 2010 World Cup when he played every game, including the Nations Cup in the Solomon Islands where other high-profile players pulled out. But Smith said that's not an excuse for the way he has let down Hudson, and the All Whites.
"That's no excuse now. I hope I can repay the fans with my commitment going forward. I'm fully committed to the cause."
You can here the full interview with Tommy Smith at 3.30pm with Andrew Gourdie here
Newshub.
