LEGENDARY former York City manager Denis Smith believes the Blue Square Premier final between two of his old teams is too close to call.

Smith led the Minstermen to the old fourth division title during the record-breaking 1983/4 campaign and also guided Oxford United, the Bootham Crescent club’s Wembley opponents on May 16, to promotion to the Championship 12 years later.

As a consequence, he is not pledging his allegiance to either side in their battle for a return to the Football League, especially with the game dividing his family.

“My youngest son, Tom, lives in Oxford and my eldest, Paul, lives in York,” Smith explained. “They both support their local teams, but we will all sit together at the match.

“I’d prefer it if both clubs could have gone up but I’m delighted one of them will and the whole play-off situation has been a bit awkward for me because I’m also Rushden striker Sam Smith’s great uncle so I’ve been looking out for three teams.

“I’m just looking forward to a good game now. I have fond memories of both clubs and hope it will be a cracking match.”

Smith watched both league fixtures between the two clubs this season and, as an occasional summariser for BBC Oxford, has also seen other matches involving the Kassam Stadium outfit during 2009/10.

He has witnessed the long-time leaders stutter during the second half of the season and, unlike the bookmakers, feels Oxford ought to be underdogs for the final, while admitting he would not want to wager any of his money on the outcome, saying: “I saw Oxford twice towards the end of the season and they didn’t play as well as they can do.

“They have done well to get to the final but, even though York have probably been in better form, that goes out of the window at Wembley. If I was a gambling man, I’d toss a coin to decide who to bet on, but luckily I’m not.

“There’s not a lot of difference between the two clubs and they would both do well in League Two. Everybody thinks Oxford are a bigger club, but they’ve had a big squeeze on finances recently and I think both managers have done well on tight budgets.

“Martin Foyle has done a great job at York. He’s taken them to Wembley two years running. That’s not a bad record and it brings the money in.”

With Oxford boasting an average home attendance more than double that of the Minstermen, Chris Wilder’s men are expected to have a bigger following at Wembley but, recalling the vociferous backing his York team used to enjoy a quarter of a century ago, Smith does not feel that will prove a factor in the final.

He said: “Oxford get bigger crowds than York but I don’t think that will matter because, once they all come out as they will, I know that York fans can make a hell of a noise. York have also had that experience of losing at Wembley last season and will be desperate to avoid the same result.”

Smith believes the Minstermen’s 2-0 FA Trophy final defeat to Stevenage 12 months ago could be beneficial in terms of not being overawed by their famous surroundings too.

He said: “You need to get people in the right frame of mind and relax them on these sort of occasions. You want to get a feel for the venue first and quite a few of York’s team have the great advantage of playing there last season.

“They know what it feels like. I’d also advise that they get plenty of fluids on board before they go out as play-off finals can often be energy-sapping games.”

With Oxford having kept 27 clean sheets and City 26 this season, Smith also has high regard for both goalkeepers.

Ryan Clarke has managed to oust long-time number one Billy Turley at the Kassam Stadium following his summer arrival from Northwich, while former Northern Ireland international Michael Ingham played almost a century of games for Smith during two separate spells at Wrexham.

“With Mike, you are talking about somebody who should be playing for his country and, without being rude to York, a player of his ability shouldn’t really be at the club,” Smith said. “But you have to produce in every game and, now, as he’s matured with age I’m sure he’s doing that.

“At Oxford, the lads up front are decent, but they haven’t scored too many of late. The midfield can also pass the ball, but I think Ryan Clarke has had a great season and kept them in matches recently.”

Smith will be interested to watch how City midfielder Levi Mackin performs on the big stage as well, having overseen his early development in North Wales.

He added: “As a 15-year-old, we thought Levi was going to be superb but he never achieved what we thought he was capable of doing which was frustrating for him and for us at Wrexham.

“We knew he had the ability but, despite being a confident lad, he seemed nervous when he was on the pitch, even though we tried to take pressure off him, so I’m glad to see him doing well at York now.”