Malcolm Crosby, assistant to boss Ian Sampson at Northampton, says he’s looking forward to coming back to Oxford United in an official capacity.

Not that he’s ever been that far from the city, having lived in Cumnor for years, and with his son Ian, 28, a well-known cricketer for Oxford, who has also played for Oxfordshire.

Crosby, who played for Aldershot and York, became good friends with Denis Smith when Smith was the York City manager, and he followed Smith first to Sunderland as a coach, and then to Oxford United at the Manor Ground.

Indeed, when appointed Oxford boss in September 1993, Smith’s first act was to bring Crosby in as his assistant.

Considerable success followed, including promotion to Division 1 in 1996, and when Smith resigned in 1997, Crosby was appointed manager, with his first game in charge a 1-0 defeat at Wolves on Boxing Day.

After five games, which brought just one point, Crosby decided that management was not for him, and he stepped down to become first-team coach.

Soon after, Smith invited him to become his assistant at West Brom, and Crosby left for the Hawthorns.

Crosby went on to become Jim Smith’s assistant at Premiership side Derby and later became assistant to Roy Evans at Swindon Town. He took over as Swin-don manager for one game, thus becoming the first person to manage the two rival clubs, albeit in caretaker capacity.

He was also Sunderland’s caretaker manager at Wembley in 1992, in only the fourth FA Cup final in their history, with Smith sacked earlier that season!

Crosby coached at Swindon for four years before joining Middlesbrough where he became Gareth Southgate’s assistant.

He has been at Northampton Town since last season, and he feels that, just like Oxford United, the Cobblers have not had the points this campaign that their play has merited.

“We’ve been playing quite well, but haven’t been getting the results,” he said, taking time off this week to speak to the Oxford Mail while moving house, to Bletchingdon, after 12 years in Cumnor.

Losing 4-3 at home to Hereford after looking in total control, 3-0 up at half-time, left players and officials stunned.

“It was quite a shock to everybody to concede four goals in the second half,” Crosby said. “We were really, really disappointed by it. We also had two or three very good chances early in the second half to make it four or five.

“But you don’t expect an Oxford team to lose a good lead either. For both teams concerned, it’s a shock.”

He added: “I think Oxford have done fantastic. I’ve obviously spoken to Mickey Lewis and Chris Wilder a few times.

“When you get relegated it is hard to bounce straight back. In the end they got the right manager to do that.”

Oxford United will always have a special place in Crosby’s heart, because he had such great times at the Manor.

“Although I managed Sunderland, the two clubs where I loved my time the most were York and Oxford,” he said.

“It was a shame really when Robin Herd went bust and all the plans for the new ground collapsed then.

“Denis and I thought we were going to be there a long time and I loved my time at Oxford, working with the players, and the spirit we had. They were good times.”