Bald Eagle is dead at 79

JIM SMITH, the manager affectionately known as The Bald Eagle, died aged 79 yesterday.

The Yorkshireman had successful spells in charge of Oxford United, Derby and Portsmouth.

He also managed Blackburn, Birmingham, Queens Park Rangers and Newcastle, as well as Boston and Colchester lower down the pyramid.

Smith (inset) also served as Harry Redknapp’s No.2 at Portsmouth and Southampton.

His playing career took in Halifax, Lincoln, Boston and Colchester but hit the big time as a boss when he succeeded Sir Alf Ramsey at

Birmingham in 1978 and then led Oxford from the third tier to the top flight in the 1980s. A fall-out with Oxford owner Robert Maxwell led to him leaving for QPR who were beaten by Oxford in the 1986 League Cup final. Smith took Pompey to the FA Cup semis in 1992 before guiding Derby to the Premier League in 1996. He later returned to Oxford for two more spells.

Former England striker Paul Walsh, who played under Smith at Portsmouth, tweeted: “God rest his soul my favourite manager Jim Smith left this earth today. RIP Jim x.”