By Chris Bevan

This is new to me too. I have fought to stay in the Premiership before but it is not quite the same as fighting to stay in the League Jim Smith

New Oxford United boss Jim Smith says his second stint in charge of the U's is likely to be a short one.

Smith, 65, who managed the club from 1982 to 1985, was also appointed as a director when he returned last week.

He told BBC Sport: "I haven't put a time-span on me as manager but I know it isn't going to be a long time -because I haven't got a long time.

"But when I decide to stop and hand over to a younger guy I will still be involved and be there on the board for advice."

'The Bald Eagle' had been out of football since leaving Southampton last summer when his contract as Harry Redknapp's assistant was not renewed following the Saints' relegation from the Premiership.

Smith had talks over the manager's job at another of his former clubs QPR last month but was tempted back to the U's when Nick Merry bought the club off former chairman Firoz Kassam.

ON 1 MARCH 1982 Jim Smith is appointed manager of Oxford Utd Argentina are poised to invade the Falkland Islands Deeleyboppers become the latest fashion accessory The Jam are at number one with 'A Town Called Malice' The 48k ZX Spectrum is the biggest selling home computer in the UK

The Oxford of today is a very different club to the one Smith led from the old Division Three to the top-flight during his previous stint at the club in the 1980s.

Back then, based at the Manor Ground and under the chairmanship of Robert Maxwell, Smith's side combined determination and flair to great effect and the players of that era are still heroes to U's fans.

The formidable defensive pairing of Malcolm Shotton and Gary Briggs was complemented by the midfield graft and guile of Trevor Hebberd, Les Phillips, Kevin Brock and Dave Langan - with the goals provided by John Aldridge and Billy Hamilton.

Smith signed every player in the Oxford team that beat his own QPR side in the 1986 League Cup final apart from Ray Houghton - but those days are long gone.

Last week, Smith walked back into a new stadium with the club only five points off the bottom off the Football League.

He added: "We were in what is now the Premier League when I left - and now we are nearly going into the Conference.

"You cannot get better than what I had when I was here before and unfortunately those sort of players aren't available at this level anymore.

"This is new to me too. I have fought to stay in the Premiership before but it is not quite the same as fighting to stay in the Football League.

JIM SMITH MANAGERIAL HISTORY Oxford: Mar 06- Southampton (ast): Dec 04-Jun 05 Portsmouth (ast): Mar 02-Nov 04 Derby: Jun 95-Oct 01 Portsmouth: Jun 91-Feb 95 Newcastle: Dec 88-Mar 01 QPR: Jun 85-Dec 88 Oxford: Mar 82-Jun 85 Birmingham: Mar 78-Feb 82 Blackburn: Jun 75-Mar 78 Colchester: Oct 72-Jun 75

"But I instruct the players the same as I would if we were top of the league. It doesn't make too much difference - you have just got to keep things as normal as possible.

"If anything you have probably just got to try to ease the pressure off them a little bit more, but you stick with your principles that you started with."

Survival is Smith's only target this season - after winning his first game in charge the U's stand four points above the League Two drop zone with six games left.

But he is confident that if the club can stay up this season then they can quickly move in the right direction under Merry.

Smith said: "Did I think I would be back here? You never say never in football but it had to be the right offer - and this was.

"The stadium is fantastic and the fan base is incredible compared to most other clubs in the bottom two divisions.

"The capacity is bigger than when I was here too - so the potential is definitely there to go forward.

"And the ambition here now is purely about being a football club - winning football matches and being successful."