Sir - I refer to your reporter's assessment of Jim Smith as being "Oxford United's greatest manager" (Sport, November 16), a very controversial statement and a purely personal view which very many people would disagree with.

He is obviously not versed in the history of the club and writing sensationalist nonsense.

With all due respect to Jim Smith's achievements in the '80s, but now adversely a disastrous relegation from the football league, he does not measure up to the record of Arthur Turner who toiled for over a decade as manager to gain the club football league status against serious opposition from other sources.

With less than a shoestring budget he signed many players from football league clubs and worked endlessly to further the squad. The following years speak for themselves, the epic FA Cup run against Blackburn and the very controversial defeat by Preston N.E. in the sixth round, both of which attracted 22,000 plus (never to be seen again).

Promotion to Division 3 in three years, repeated again to Division 2, with no fancy director of football, assistants for every position, general manager, ticket office manager, two staff etc, just one part-time assistant for Arthur and myself in the early years when we both worked 70+ hours a week on many occasions.

The fact that the likes of Ron Atkinson, Cyril Beavon, Maurice Kyle and many others chose to stay at Oxford when we received offers, bears out the managerial qualities in Arthur Turner's reign.

How do I justify my remarks? I was the first full-time secretary when Oxford entered the football league and spent eight years working with Arthur, who had unbelievable stamina for the job and foresight. It is disgraceful the club has fallen from grace and may languish in the lower depths for many years to come.

Ken McCluskey, Banbury