But the Island's premier batsman says if he does contest the five-match club ban it will be to clear his name rather than pave the way for a Red Stripe Bowl place.

He did admit, however, that missing the two-week competition in Guyana will hurt.

"That would be a major blow if I did have to miss Red Stripe because that was what I geared my whole season around,'' said Smith on the weekend as he served the first match of his ban.

"Having gotten Athlete of the Year last year I knew that it was important to come back and have a good year and my whole preparation in pre-season was geared towards that. I have had a really good season by my standards and it was a tune-up for the Red Stripe.'' Smith, who returned from college in South Carolina last week to play in the Eastern Counties Cup final and KNockout Cup semifinal was suspended on Friday night.

He will miss at least 11 games for club and country, including extended appearances for St. David's in the TBI Champion of Champions.

Smith said he thinks the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control was trying to send out a message with the length of the suspension. Just recently Richard Basden of Willow Cuts was handed a similar ban for his conduct towards umpire Jeff Pitcher.

"I think they were trying to use me as an example because a lot of people felt that because it is Clay Smith, he'll probably get off with probation,'' Smith stated.

"They probably said, `Regardless of who is it, let's stamp our authority here and show people we're very serious about this situation'. I'm not too concerned about the five matches because when I come home from school I'll probably end up missing the first two or three games anyway.'' Smith faced the charge of ungentlemanly conduct towards umpire Ronald O'Hara after being given out, but he stressed that his reaction was to Willow Cuts bowler Charles Symons and not the umpire.

"The bowler and I had a confrontation and he said a few words to me as I was walking off and I just responded to it and the umpire overheard the situation and took it personally.

"They charged me with making comments to the umpire but the comments I made were directed at a player. To me it's unfortunate because I personally thought the case was going to be straightforward.

"If I decide to appeal the case I'll have a back-up source...it's a matter of appealing for the sake of my character and my image.

"Even my wanting to become a teacher, that doesn't look good from the kids' point of view.

"Right now people have this image of me being Bermuda's bad boy of cricket and as Athlete of the Year that's not the picture I want to portray, because I consider myself a role model for many kids.

"This weekend hurt me more than anything, just walking around and having kids asking me why I'm not playing. It was difficult to answer but I had to tell them the truth.''