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Jimmy Smith says his ex-Cheltenham Town team-mate Michael Duff is a ‘good appointment’ as manager

Author: Roger Jackson, Posted: Wednesday, 12th September 2018, 10:40

Cheltenham Town host Crewe on Saturday

Michael Duff is a good choice to be manager of Cheltenham Town.

So says his former Cheltenham team-mate Jimmy Smith, who played alongside him in the late 90s.

Smith, a Cheltenham legend after scoring well over 100 goals for the club, said: “Yes, I do think it’s a good appointment. He’s learned his trade and worked under some good managers.

“Since he’s retired from playing he’s gone into the coaching side, most recently with the under-23s at Burnley.

“He will have learned a lot from his time at Burnley and also from the teams he played against.

“He’s 40 so he’s not just come out of playing, he’s done his coaching badges and I think he’s well equipped to do the job.”

Duff played 300 games for Cheltenham after making his debut in 1996 before heading north to Burnley in 2004 where he played close on 350 games including a couple of seasons in the Premier League.

His time at Cheltenham coincided with the most successful period in the club’s history with FA Trophy final success at Wembley being followed by promotion to the Football League and then another promotion to League One via the play-offs.

While older Cheltenham supporters will have great memories of his performances at right-back and in the centre of defence, Smith insists: “A lot of people are saying about him being an ex-Cheltenham player but he’s been away for a long time.

“He’s been away from the town and it will feel like a new club, it will be very different from when he was last here.”

And when he was last here, he was a very good player as Smith remembers.

“He had a great temperament,” said Smith of the 24-times capped Northern Ireland international. “He hardly ever got booked or sent off. He was strong and quick, a good all round player.

“He was a good team player, he’s a good lad.”

Duff takes charge of Cheltenham for the first time on Saturday when his new club host Crewe in a League Two game.

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Jimmy Smith says his ex-Cheltenham Town team-mate Michael Duff is a ‘good appointment’ as manager

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