Khano Smith is on the verge of being given the boot by struggling New York Red Bulls after being shunted onto the non-protected players list.

Red Bulls now have the power to waiver his 'non-guaranteed contract' at any time and with coach Juan Carlos Osario looking to draft in reinforcements it seems as though Smith's days are numbered.

Smith was the only Red Bulls' player to see his terms down-graded on Wednesday – the date when MLS contacts become guaranteed – and reports suggest Osario will replace him with Austrian winger Ernst Obster from Red Bulls Salzburg on July 15.

Had Smith not agreed to have his guaranteed protection removed from his team's roster he would have been in danger of being shipped out immediately.

"We're in advanced discussions with Ernst," sporting director Jeff Agoo told The New York Post. "He can play a lot of different positions. "We saw him in a couple of trainings also while we were there, so we know he can add some versatility. But ideally he'll be on the left side."

Former Dandy Town man Smith signed for Red Bulls in pre-season from the league's new-boys Seattle Sounders who he left without playing a match for. He has endured a torrid time since moving to Giants Stadium and has just started six games this season.

A frustrated Smith voiced his discontent at being dropped from Red Bulls' starting line-up back in May and admitted that Osario had spoken to him about his inconsistent form, but refused to expand on their conversation.

"I don't know. You'd have to ask him. I don't know," said Smith when asked about losing his starting berth. "I just come here and try to do my best. I'm not playing, of course I'm not happy."

In an exclusive interview with The Royal Gazette earlier this season Osario demanded more from his under-performing winger.

He said: "He's still not the Khano that I think he can be. In isolated situations he needs to take his defender one-on-one and produce more for us when we are attacking.

"As an individual player we need to find a little more from him particularly in the attacking third."

Smith finished on the wrong end in two successive MLS Cup finals at New England Revolution where he enjoyed four successful seasons as a regular starter.

He joined Sounders where he spent a few weeks during pre-season before signing a lucrative $120,000 a-year contract with Red Bulls.