Jim Smith has been answering more of your questions for the new Q and A section of this site. The United boss answered a few more questions on his playing career before focussing on his two spells in charge of United.

You only scored one goal for Aldershot do you remember it?

"I thought I scored more than that. Not many more though! I do remember scoring my first goal for Aldershot in the reserves at Portsmouth though"

Who was your most difficult opponent as a player?

"Ernie Hunt when we played Swindon in the Cup. He was part of a young Swindon side and a very good player who went on to play at the top level."

What do you remember about your first game as Manager, when at Boston?

"It was at Great Harwood, which wasn't the greatest place and they'd just got promoted to the Northern Premier League. It was a Friday night and I didn't know anything about them at all. When I picked up the team sheet they had a hell of a team, all famous names. It took me a while to realise they were all 44 years old! We beat them 4-0!"

Was your first time at Oxford the happiest of your managerial career?

"I have been fortunate in the main and been happy at every club I've been at. But my happiest time was here at Oxford. We had a difficult start but got better and better and won two championships. That was marvellous. It wasn't just the success but the way we played football. Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to manage that team at the top, which is the biggest regret of my football life.

"I have been fortunate and had promotions and good times, but the happiest time was certainly my time at Oxford United."

When you came to Oxford the first time you didn't go up immediately, and that allowed you to build an even better side. Are there parallels with the club right now?

"We had a hard ask that first season. We had an outside chance of going up but for some reason the fixtures went against us and we had about six away games on the trot and one at home. We didn't quite make it, but that was a blessing in disguise because it gave us a chance to add to what we had. Ian Greaves had done a great job and gave me a great base on which to build.

"It's very rare to join a club unless the team is struggling, because that's when managers leave! But Ian had fallen out with Robert Maxwell. Knowing Ian and Mr Maxwell that was probably inevitable! He had been offered the Wolves job and moved on, but he left behind a super base for me to build on, and deserves a lot of credit for what followed."

What was it like working under Robert Maxwell?

"In the early days when we didn't get immediate success he was very supportive. Then when we got flying he carried on and I didn't have many problems with him at all. Then when we got nearer and nearer to the top division he started getting a bit busy and getting involved in a few deals, like kit deals which turned out to be wrong and that sort of thing. But up until then I had nothing but total support."

Management has changed so much since you started. Has the job itself got easier?

"In the old days I left the lotteries and bingo to others but was involved in just about everything else! From ordering the boot laces, to the kit, to contracts, you did everything! The secretary would come and show you where to sign and you'd consult the chairman but everything else was down to you. Nowadays they are coaches rather than managers. We have adopted the continental way, especially at the higher level. The General Manager does the deals, the Manager just really picks his coaches and players.

"You talk about management being 24 hours a day, but it really was like that years ago. I remember doing contracts at Boston. I was the only full time person there. Even the secretary was part time so I did all the secretarial work, which stood me in good stead really. My wife did the wages and accounts and we basically ran the club. I'd be running round with contracts, everything. And that was the norm! But if you look back to before my time then the managers all had suits and spats on, they weren't coaches. They didn't have the in depth training, the looking after the players and so on. They'd just turn up in the big boots and kick lumps out of each other!"

You say that management has changed, but have you changed too? Are you still on the training ground each day?

"I always get involved and am pulling the boots on to get out there on the training ground. I've got tremendous confidence in Darren Patterson and do sit back on the periphery a bit more now. I get involved with setting the team out, the shape and plans, and sometimes we'll share. Yesterday Darren worked on something with the defence while I did some shooting practise with the forwards. I haven't done too much coaching really this pre-season because it's a busy time and I've been looking after bringing in players more this year. As you get older you can't do as much on the pitch, that's a fact of life, but I still enjoy it and still get out there most days."

Is life easier this time around at Oxford United?

"The last time was easier because they were better players. That's no disrespect to the current squad, but we were at a higher level then. You'd like to think you helped the two centre halves to become better players, and that Kevin Brock learned a bit. John Aldridge still had things to learn even though he was a natural goalscorer. But I brought in experience like Dave Langan, Bobby McDonald and so on. Those senior players were of a standard which probably helped the young players along."

Is the success you had first time around a millstone now?

"No, because I never mention them, and the players aren't allowed in my office so they can't see the pictures from those days! But they SHOULD see the pictures and should see what Oxford United is all about and what we could be. There is a picture in my office of Dave Roberts heading clear from George Best and Denis Law at the Manor. It's before my time, but look at the crowd, look at the night the fans had, and that's what we can achieve here.

"I don't think there's anything wrong in looking back. Most of the players here wouldn't know the old names now, but we have a fantastic stadium here compared to The Manor, even if the ground was instrumental in some of the famous victories The training ground and what we provide for the players is different class.. But this is a proper stadium, a proper football club and those older fans know that we can achieve so much here again?"

Hear all three parts of this interview in Yellow World, with the fourth, concluding part to follow soon.