FORMER Oxford United manager Denis Smith threw his hat into the ring as the speculation mounts on who will become the new lord of the Manor.

Smith, who lives at Cumnor, has been out of work since being sacked by West Brom just before the start of this season.

But the 51-year-old wants to get back into management and has had offers from abroad, although none from the Premiership or Football League.

"I don't know the new people and they might have someone lined up or might not fancy me. But if they wanted to talk to me about the possibility of coming back, I might be interested. I'd like to get back into management and don't think you can necessarily say 'I won't go back to a club'."

Smith had ups and downs in his four years at the Manor, suffering relegation from the League's top flight but then guiding the team to promotion in 1995-6.

He did well under strait-jacket finances, but many fans found him arrogant. One wonders how the supporters would take to him coming back.

"Whichever club you're at, there are some fans who like you and some who don't," Denis said. "Perhaps more people are able to look back at my record now and see it was pretty good. "When I was manager at Oxford there was never any money and I always had to sell, so I know how to operate in those conditions."

Smith was dismissed by West Brom just 11 days before the season started, with the club chairman saying he had lost confidence in his manager.- even though Smith had signed new players and just taken Albion on a pre-season tour to Denmark.

Results were not brilliant but West Brom fans will always remember Smith as the man who gave striker Lee Hughes his big break. Hughes ended last season with 32 goals, making him the country's leading goalscorer.

Story date: Wednesday 27 October

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