Save Oxford United  ->  FOUL  ->  FAQ

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Frequently asked Questions

1. What are the main objectives of FOUL?

1. FOUL has only one objective. To do everything possible to ensure the survival of Oxford United as a professional football club.

1. How does FOUL plan to achieve this objective?

1. FOUL’s immediate strategy is to:

1. Publicise the plight of the club.
2. Highlight what would be the consequences of the football clubs closure to the wider community.
3. Show all parties, who have a role to play in the future of the club, that there are a large number of people who care deeply about the club’s fate. These parties include the Club’s owner Robin Herd, the board members of Oxford United FC, Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Grenoble Investments, Lloyds Bank, Taylor Woodrow, Energy Holdings and other creditors.

As circumstances change at the club and new information is made public this strategy will obviously have to change. For example if the club was to be bought, then the threat of immediate closure would be averted and FOUL’s role would change to one of support for any new owner who planned to invest in and develop the club to ultimately achieve football and commercial success. If the club was to go into administration, as has been discussed as a possibility by the current board, then FOUL’s strategy would be to do everything possible to ensure that this did not lead to receivership or bankruptcy. This could involve raising money to keep the club running or actively searching for new investors to form a rescue package.

1. How can supporters of Oxford United get involved in FOUL?

Answer: The main thing that supporters can do is turn up to the meeting which is planned to take place at Oxford Town Hall on Wednesday 25th November at 7:30 pm. In the mean time they can also write to the City Council, local MPs, local businesses, the club, and Oxford United’s creditors to express their support for the club and the concerns they have about what the impact would be if the club were to go out of business. They can also write to local and national newspapers and football magazines or call television and radio phone ins to publicise the plight of the club.

1. Why is FOUL holding a public meeting?

Answer: The main objective of the meeting is to allow as many people as possible to become involved in the fight to save Oxford United’s life. Supporters will find out what they can do to help ensure the future of the football club. It is planned to have a number of speakers from the local community and also the wider football community to explain why Oxford needs a professional football club and what would be the consequences should it fail. The very fact that a large number of people are prepared to attend such a meeting will demonstrate the wide ranging support for Oxford United as a key part of the local community.

1. Is FOUL campaigning for the resignation of Keith Cox?

Answer: No. As already stated FOUL’s only objective is the survival of the football club. With the limited information available to supporters it would appear that Keith Cox shares this aim and as such his resignation would at present be counter productive. If it comes to light that for whatever reason that Oxford United has a better chance of survival with somebody else in charge then obviously this would change the situation considerably.

1. Who does FOUL blame for the financial state of Oxford United?

Answer: Assigning blame to particular individuals is unlikely to be helpful in the current situation. FOUL believes that there are many individuals and organisations that over the years have all contributed to the current situation. Whether knowingly or intentionally their collective actions have led to the club balancing on the brink of disappearance.

1. What does FOUL think of the football teams recent performance and the role of Malcolm Shotton?

Answer: As supporters of Oxford United we are obviously disappointed by recent results but understand how the financial insecurity at the club is bound to spill over onto the playing side. Malcolm Shotton has the full support of FOUL and, to the best of our knowledge, the overwhelming majority of Oxford supporters.

1. What can FOUL realistically hope to achieve with this campaign?

Answer: At present the most important thing that FOUL can do is raise awareness and demonstrate support for the continuation of a professional football club in Oxford. As events unfold it may be that the supporters of Oxford United are all that stands between the club and bankruptcy. In the case of other football clubs faced with this prospect it has only been the action of supporters that has saved their club from extinction.

1. Is FOUL opposed to Grenoble Investments’ proposed takeover of the club?

Answer: No. If anything FOUL is actively encouraging the deal to go ahead by demonstrating the support there is in the wider community for a successful well funded football club in Oxford. Grenoble Investments has the support of FOUL because it is the only consortium/individual that we know of that is currently involved in negotiations to take over the club. Even if other potential investors were identified then it would not be possible to comment on the merits of the Grenoble plans in comparison to any others because so little is known about who is behind Grenoble and what its specific plans are.

1. Isn’t FOUL just the same old group of activists who have consistently criticised the club, but just under a new name?

Answer: No. FOUL grew out of a large group of Oxford fans discussing the situation via the Internet. It was suggested and agreed that the editors of the Oxford fanzine Rage On would be the best people to arrange a meeting to get such a campaign off the ground. The only connection FOUL has to Rage On is that one of the fanzine’s editors was asked to act as press liaison for FOUL because of his experience in this area..

1. Won’t any protests and demonstrations just damage the club and cause potential investors or sponsors to think again?

Answer: No. Far from it. We believe that by highlighting the club’s plight and demonstrating wide spread support for the club throughout the community it can only be of benefit to the club. We also hope it will demonstrate to any potential investor or sponsor both the long term viability of professional football in Oxford and the considerable advantages to any organisation that is seen to be involved in helping the club out of its current difficulties.

1. Does FOUL want the club to go into Administration?

Answer: FOUL wants the club to survive. Hopefully this can be done without having to go into administration. If administration turns out to be the only chance of avoiding bankruptcy then obviously we would have to support this action.

1. What can FOUL do if the club goes into administration?

Answer: Supporters of other football clubs that have found themselves in similar circumstances in the past have worked with the administrators to put together a rescue package involving the local council, local businesses and the supporters themselves. If all else fails FOUL will work towards establishing a similar community based football club in Oxford.