By Russell Smith JIM Smith is set to become the first president of Thame United despite his clash with the club's commercial manager, Dermot Gallagher, at the end of Derby's Premiership game with Newcastle United.

Millions of TV viewers saw the finger-wagging former Oxford United boss blast Banbury-based referee Gallagher as the teams walked off following the Rams' 3-2 defeat at St James' Park on Wednesday night.

The angry Rams boss, known as the Bald Eagle, said: "I've known Dermot for a long time, but it was just a poor performance throughout.

"I thought Powell was fouled in the build-up to the third goal, and we could have had two penalties."

Gallagher commented: "I think Jim wanted me to play a little bit longer. He felt they could get back into it because Newcastle were really up against it and Sturridge nearly equalised near the end." Gallagher declined to be drawn on Smith's comments about his performance.

"It is not my opinion that matters," he said. "It is the assessor's opinion and he was happy with it."

Thame approached Smith to be their president as he still has strong connections with the county, having a house in Woodstock.

And Smith, who has also spoken at sportsmen's dinners at Windmill Stadium, has verbally agreed to accept the position.