Smith had been criticised by some Leeds' fans

Smith, who has 12 months left on his contract, came under fire after Leeds' shock play-off defeat at the hands of Warrington last Friday.

"He is the man to take us forward, no question. The time left on his contract is not an issue," Hetherington told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

He said there would be a full review of the club's playing staff.

But he said he was not expecting a big turnover of players.

"Last Friday was a desperately disappointing end to the season and I have never seen a group of players or staff as devastated after the game," he said.

"Now is the time for a pretty thorough review and to make accurate assessments.

"We would have done it even if we had won the competition and it is not a reaction to last Friday."

Defeat by Warrington and a Challenge Cup semi-final loss to Huddersfield left Leeds without a trophy for the second successive season.

In 2004 they ended a 32-year wait to be crowned league champions, and followed it up in February 2005 by winning the World Club championship.

But in August 2005 they lost the Challenge Cup final to Hull, and the Super League campaign also ended in defeat by Bradford in the Grand Final at Old Trafford.