Adam Smith and Tom Hopper sign for Northampton Town and Scunthorpe United after Leicester City sacked pair for taking part in ‘racist orgy’ in Bangkok

Adam Smith was one of three players sacked for a ‘racist orgy’ in Bangkok
The goalkeeper has penned a two-year deal with Northampton Town
Tom Hopper is another who was sacked by Leicester City previously
The striker has signed for League One club Scunthorpe United

Published:
15:49 GMT, 26 June 2015

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Updated:
17:25 GMT, 26 June 2015

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Adam Smith and Tom Hopper, two of the three Leicester City players sacked for taking part in a ‘racist orgy’ in Bangkok, were handed a route back into professional football on Friday.

League Two club Northampton Town handed disgraced goalkeeper Smith, 22, a two-year contract while League One side Scunthorpe United signed striker Hopper, 21.

Both were filmed with team-mate James Pearson – the 22-year-old son of Leicester manager Nigel – committing sex acts with three Thai girls in which one was racially abused.

The naked players were caught hurling insults during the clip, shared among friends back in the UK, with one woman called a ‘slit eye’ and another taunted as ‘minging’.

Northampton Town have signed Adam Smith on a two-year deal after the goalkeeper was sacked by Leicester

Smith, who never made an appearance for the Leicester senior team, has joined Northampton

James Pearson (left) and Tom Hopper (right) also had their contracts terminated with Leicester but the latter has been signed by Scunthorpe United on Friday

The footage was a huge embarrassment for Nigel Pearson who is a patron of football’s Kick It Out campaign

The trio were sent home from the club’s trip to Thailand and, despite apologising, had their contracts terminated by the Barclays Premier League side.

Following their capture of Hopper, Scunthorpe released a statement which detailed how they ‘feel that we know his true character’ and that they believe in second chances.

‘The club would like to make it clear that we are fully aware of the recent publicity surrounding the young striker and have put a considerable amount of thought into the decision to sign him,’ the announcement on their website read.

‘We understand that youngsters can make mistakes, but we are a club who believe in giving people a second chance when they have shown a genuine desire to make amends.’

Smith never made a first-team appearance for Leicester, having been sent on loan to six different clubs since 2011, but was handed a lifeline by Northampton to restart his career.

‘Everyone knows I got myself in a situation which I’m deeply ashamed of and sorry for,’ he said.

Father and son owners Vichai and Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha have ploughed millions into the football club

‘I’m just pleased the manager here [at Northampton] has given me a second chance. He’s put his faith in me and it’s down to me to repay that in the training ground and on the pitch if he selects me.

‘I know the club do a lot for anti-racism and I’m willing to get involved in that. The way the papers said it, it was like all three of us. It was one comment, which wasn’t made by me.

‘If I put the performances in on the pitch, hopefully the fans can put that behind them and get behind me and the rest of the lads.’

Smith admitted he thought his career as a professional footballer was over after his sacking.

‘I thought I was gone,’ he told BBC Radio Northampton. ‘I couldn’t leave my house as there was people outside trying to take photos. I felt ashamed, I wouldn’t put anyone through that.

‘It was a mistake – I regretted it the next morning. Obviously I’m going to get asked about it, but the less I hear about it the better and move on with my career here.’