Jim Smith has branded the treatment of England manager Steve McClaren by the media and fans as "disgraceful".

Former Oxford United midfielder and coach McClaren has been subjected to vilification by the national tabloids, and ridiculed by the broadsheets and on BBC radio.

England supporters heavily barracked both him and the team in their Euro 2008 qualifier against Andorra following their goalless draw in Israel.

U's boss Smith believes the media has stirred up the hatred and says it's a sad state of affairs when the national team are booed even before they take to the field.

"The media have made the fans' minds up," Smith said. "And the fans react to the media hype.

"I think it's absolutely disgraceful a) from the media and b) from the fans.

"You're entitled to make your feelings known at the end of the game if things haven't gone well. But they were booing and shouting when the players walked down the tunnel.

"The treatment of Steve McClaren has been disgraceful. I'm saying that not because Steve's a good friend of mine, but because it shouldn't happen to any manager.

"And it's been engineered by certain papers, without a shadow of a doubt.

"But that happens to all England managers."

Smith is godfather to McClaren's son, Josh, and throughout his management career the England head coach has often turned to the 66-year-old for advice.

"I did tell Steve - don't take it (the job)! You're too young anyway and you're asking for trouble," said the Bald Eagle.

"But as managers, we'd all take it, because it's an unbelievable honour.

"But if you've got any sense, you wouldn't because it's a poisoned challice.

"I'd say 90 per cent of England managers have been vilified - even Alf Ramsay at the end, and he won the World Cup and got us close to the semi-final (in 1970). And they (the media) still had a go at him!"

The Oxford United manager feels, though, that with four of their next five games at home England still have a great chance to reach the 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland.

"I think England will turn it around and will qualify, and what will the writers do then?" Smith asked.

"They'll then say 'well done - we're going to WIN the European Championship', which they're not.

"And then, because we don't win it, there's then a campaign to get rid of him again!"