Denis Smith’s “promotion” upstairs wasn’t really a surprise when it came, although possibly the manner of his departure from the manager’s seat was unexpected. Whilst everyone was speculating whether or not Smith would resign or be dismissed there couldn’t have been many who would have guessed that he would remain at United but in a different role. Likewise Mike Ford’s rise from retirement to Youth Team Coach to reserve player to first team player to caretaker manager (and who knows what next?) could hardly have been predicted.

It can never be claimed that United goes about its business in a conventional manner, so what’s going to happen with its latest managerial appointment is anyone’s guess. Firoz Kassam’s statement that he will appoint someone from outside the club is to be welcomed – new broom and all that – although whether he would be ready to replace Fordy if results turn around in the next few games is open to question. Whilst we wish Fordy all the best in his current new post we do hope that Kassam sticks to his word to bring in someone who, as far as U’s fans are concerned, doesn’t bring any baggage with them. This could apply to those with former swindon connections as much as those with former United connections (in other words, no, Jimmy Quinn!), although someone like Mark Wright or Steve Perryman’s former association with United is distant enough to be rendered irrelevant.

Certainly it is unlikely that United could afford to bring in someone like Joe Kinnear or Nigel Spackman, even if by some fluke they were to be interested in the post, which is highly unlikely given the budgetary restraints that they would be working under. Similarly it is difficult to imagine someone like Steve Cotterill giving up his post at a successful Division Three club for an outfit that might well swap places with Cheltenham at the end of the season. Others, like Steve Coppell or the ex-Millwall duo of Alan MacLeary and Keith Stevens, could well be interested and have proven track records of working successfully with limited budgets.

Of course, all this speculation is useful only for exercising the grey matter and is likely to bear little resemblance to whatever scenario does unfold. Whoever does get the opportunity (or threat) to manage United is going to inherit a demotivated squad of players, many of whom live nowhere near Oxfordshire and some of whom are on wages out of all proportion to the value they bring to the squad. He is going to have his work cut out just to ensure that United doesn’t get relegated this season and it is vital that he is strong enough and has enough experience to overcome all these obstacles, and many more. If United can’t even beat Bristol City at home then every fixture starts to look daunting, and it was only a couple of seasons ago that we had a reasonably strong First Division outfit.

The decision of who replaces Smith could turn out to be the most crucial one yet faced by Kassam on the playing side of the club. It is vital that he gets it right first time, because there’s enough time left now to turn things around, but if United sinks further into the mire then in a couple of months it might well be too late. Let’s just hope that Brian Horton is happy at Port Vale.