I'M SCARED

It really is a crucial match tomorrow, and I can't say I'm feeling confident. It reminds me too much of the less immediately crucial, but ultimately equally important, home match against Bury last season. Expecting to win, we battered Bury, but a defensive error let in Derek Lilley for the only goal. Lilley was of course playing for Bury at the time. Our record on defensive errors this season is equally dire, and I'm frightened of a repeat. The fact that Mark Watson requires a late fitness test hardly inspires confidence either. Paul Tait is also a doubt, with Simon Weatherstone standing by.

Scunthorpe are switching to a 4-3-3 formation, with Gary Bull, Brian Quailey and Steve Torpey as the three-pronged attack. They plan to have a further three strikers on the bench - and no back-up keeper. They evidently mean business.

Fasten your seatbelts - the ride could be very bumpy...

JOEY'S READING LINKS

There's a rumour (apparently reported in the Reading Evening Post, whose website is years out of date) that Joey will join Reading on a free transfer if we are relegated. We should of course have offered him a new contract months ago, but the club has always had such good forward planning...

Incidentally, London Irish RFC look set to ground share with Reading at the Madejski Stadium. Long-time readers will remember that a pre-Kassam rescue scheme for Oxford was a groundshare with Irish at Minchery Farm.

OLDHAM TO FIELD "KIDS"

Oxford's relegation rivals Blackpool are set to meet an inexperienced Oldham side this weekend. The latics have severe injury problems, and will probably need to draft in members of their youth team to fill the gaps. I'm getting more and more of a feeling that Blackpool will relegate us this time around in a neat reversal of fortune from our last promotion campaign.

JOEY BACK IN TRAINING

Joey Beauchamp will return to training this week and, according to both himself and Denis, has a reasonable chance of making it at least as far as the subs' bench on Saturday. Joey said, "I've been jogging and it's been all right. I hope to train either Thursday or Friday and if I come through that, I should be all right for the big match on Saturday."

CARDIFF BOSS PESSIMISTIC

Cardiff's manager, Billy Ayre, has admitted that he now has a tough task to keep the Welsh side in division two. Despite having a game in hand on Oxford, Cardiff's last three matches are all against play-off contenders. Ayre said, "We've won only four games at home all season and we simply don't score enough goals. That causes pressure, which leads to individual errors, and with successive away games at Stoke and Gillingham it all looks very tough."

Blackpool boss Steve McMahon was slightly more upbeat after the Tangerines' 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers. "We have just got to keep going. We have given ourselves a slender lifeline. But we have proved that even if we go down it's not a crime to try and play football."

FOUL MOUTH 7

FOUL's latest update on off-the-field matters will be distributed prior to Saturday's match.

DENIS GETS "NASTY"

Denis admitted that he had "got nasty" at half-time yesterday, with Oxford losing 2-1 at the time. "We weren't good enough after taking the lead and I had to get really nasty, reminding my players that their careers could be on the line if we were relegated," said Denis. Of course his career could also be on the line, which is perhaps the important factor in all this. Despite the away draw, Denis was honest enough to admit that "we weren't good enough."

Speaking of Oxford managers, Brian Horton saw his team relegated for the first time in his career as player or manager, as Port Vale dropped into the second division yesterday. Normally Horton bails out of a club just in time for his handiwork to ensure that his successor ends up with a relegation-bound team.

BANGER "WOULD BENEFIT RAITH ROVERS"

An Aberdeen-supporting colleague of mine showed me a mail on the Dons' mailing list from someone who went to Aberdeen v Dundee reserves (or U21 as they call such matches in Scotland). The Bronzed One was playing for Dundee, and our correspondent was impressed enough to comment :

"One player that definately caught the eye was Nicky Banger. Its amazing that
someone who has played in England's top division is in Dundee's reserves.
He'd definately benefit the likes of Raith Rovers or Livvie any day of the week."

YOUR VIEWS

I've received some more mails so far with your views on who should be allowed to leave and who should be offered new contracts. Keep them coming in - I think a clear picture is starting to emerge!

HELPING HAND
(BRISTOL CITY 2 OXFORD 2)

Thank you, Bury. Your 2-0 win at Cardiff (despite an unconfirmed rumour that you were playing half your youth team in the match) has made our draw at Bristol City seem an awful lot better than it would have done otherwise. As Cardiff's next matches are against Stoke and Gillingham, we may yet arrive at the New Den with something to play (or hope) for. Still, it's never safe to make predictions.

Oxford repeated last season's scoreline at Ashton Gate thanks mainly to the efforts of Richard "Sign him up" Knight, who made yet more excellent saves, and Paul "Someone else will sign him up" Powell, who was our source of creativity throughout the match, scoring our early opener, and making our second half equaliser for Steve Davis.

Other signs of hope : Les Robinson being subbed; Rob Folland getting 45 minutes as sub.

We're out of the bottom four again. Can we stay there?

WIN OR BUST

Whilst technically Oxford cannot be relegated until Sunday (when Cardiff play at Stoke), anything but a win at Bristol City would just about finish off the U's if Cardiff pick up an expected home win against Bury. Denis is likely to keep faith with the team who played Brentford, rather than making the obvious switches of Abbey and Folland for the useless Anthrobus and Robinson.

Bristol City are likely to drop off-form striker Peter Beadle and replace him with Damien Spencer. Keeper Billy Mercer and striker Tony Thorpe are doubtful with injury and flu respectively.

NEVER ENOUGH
(OXFORD 1 BRENTFORD 1)

As has been customary in recent home matches, Oxford got less than was required from the match, and this time it was enough to send the team back into the relegation zone with just three matches remaining. Cardiff's win at Oldham allows them to leapfrog us, and they still have a game in hand. I can't see our staying up now.

Oxford really should have won this match. Four players (Knight, Lilley, Powell and especially Eddie Newton) had outstanding games, but two many of the rest of the side played poorly. In the second half the U's must have had almost double the possession that Brentford managed, but could still carve out very few chances. Our esteemed manager then killed any hope we had by subbing Newton and Lilley, bringing on the ineffectual Cook and Weatherstone. The heart went out of the side, and there was no way we were going to win from that point. Well done, Denis, another tactical masterstroke.

As for Brentford, they tried hard for a fading side with nothing left to play for, and Scott Partridge looked very handy up front. But really they were very ordinary. They did provide a strange moment though, when Lloyd Owusu was physically sick on the pitch shortly after scoring the equaliser. He presevered for a while, but was eventually substituted.

So it's to Ashton Gate on Monday. We need luck fast - at least as much as we got in our 3-0 win over Bristol City at the Manor last year.

EASTER PREVIEW

I'm not sure how much I'll be updating the news page over the Easter break, but suffice to say that it is a crucial time for Oxford. Four points is probably the very least that the U's must pick up against Brentford and Bristol City if there is to be any chance of staving off relegation. Of our relegation rivals, Scunthorpe have perhaps the toughest weekend, with matches against Preston (a) and Stoke (h). Blackpool play Bury (a) and Bristol Rovers (h), whilst Cardiff should pick up a few points against Oldham (a) and Bury (h).

When Oxford played Brentford at Griffin Park in the league earlier this season, the Bees were on a 25 match unbeaten run dating back into last season. They duly made it 26 with a 2-0 win over the U's. Their unbeaten run ended in their next match, though, and since then they have fallen down the table, with added momentum in recent weeks. Until recently I had still thought them to be play-off contenders, rather than in the lower half of mid-table. Their goal against Millwall last weekend was their first for eight matches, and they've won just one of their last thirteen. This is the sort of side we have to beat if we are to stay up.

TAXPAYERS PAY FOR FACILITIES SHOCK!

In a piece of shocking news yesterday, the Oxford Mail revealed that Oxford taxpayers would be helping to pay for some of the city's leisure facilities, in this case the legal costs towards building the new Oxford United stadium. Shock, horror...

I thought the whole point of paying council tax was to help with the provision of facilities and services for the city (or region). Evidently Councillor Stockford, who has been making noises on the subject, doesn't realise that, yes, taxpayers do sometimes have to foot the bill for services that they personally might not use, for the benefit of other members of the community. In return they get their own particular wants and needs catered for. That's what community spirit and taxpaying is all about, isn't it?

I hate this selfish idea that is creeping into British society (and reporting) that people should be outraged when their taxes pay for services that they personally will not be using. Better to complain about all the tax that goes into an unnecessary British nuclear deterrent, I say.

Rant over.

NEWTON NOT OVERPAID

Denis Smith has denied rumours that Eddie Newton is being paid Premiership wages whilst at Oxford. Rumours have apparently been circulating that Newton is on more than 5 grand a week, but according to Smith, "If you knew how much he was on, you'd see that he is actually one of the lower paid players in the first team, and it's unfair on Eddie for that figure to be quoted."

Of course this could just be a comment on how much the other first team players are paid!

DENIS SEEKS CONTRACT

Uh-oh. Denis is trying to convince Kassam to give him a contract for next season. This is of course before we know whether he's done what he was specifically brought in to do - keep the club in the second division. Denis said, "I spoke to the chairman and I'll probably have another chat this week. I don't have a contract, it's totally open-ended. But I'd like to get something done and he's indicated he would want me."

Remember what Denis himself said when he arrived back at the Manor in February: "If things go wrong from now, it's all my fault." Basically he's admitted it will be his fault if we do go down. If we do, should he really still be offered a contract with the club for next season? Maybe we're now that desperate.

Denis also chatted to FK about the more important issue of player contracts for next season. I fear the worst on this one. Until the result of the JR is known (mid-summer), I can't see FK throwing money into renewing player contracts. We could easily end up losing the likes of Mark Watson as a result.

FOR RICHER AND FOR POORER

Oxford's club secretary, Mick Brown, has commented on the recent Independent survey of footballers' wages through the divisions, and the all-too-evident difference in financial stature between clubs in the various divisions. Brown commented, "You have to remain focused on what you need to do to survive. We have got used to just looking at the next problem rather than looking too far ahead. Too many clubs are spending tomorrow's money today and we can't and won't do that."

FLA "SYMAPTHY"

The Football Licensing Authority will look at Oxford's application for special dispensation to use the Manor next season with " great sympathy" according to their inspector, Jim Chalmers. The Manor Ground terracing does not conform to the new stringent safety legislation, and to make it do so would apparently cost hundreds of thousands of pounds. Chalmers said that he realised Oxford were a special case, and that the FLA were not there "to put any club out of business."

Chalmers also said, "Any club which is seeking special dispensation must get that application in, with all the reasons for requesting it, by April 28. I have no doubt, from having spoken with Mr Kassam, that he will do that by then and hopefully we would have those details available to us to put to a board meeting of the Football Licensing Authority in May. It is a board meeting, not just me, who makes the decision. However, my own view is that when it is outside the remit of the club, I have a great deal of sympathy."

The club awaits the result of the Judicial Review in the summer before knowing whether work on Minchery Farm can commence before the start of next season. Permission has already been granted by the FLA for the club to use the Manor next season if building work on the new ground has restarted.

BURNLEY REACTION

It was interesting to note that a Burnley report reckoned thay had been lucky to beat us in each of the two games this season. It's reassuring to know that we are not the only ones who felt hard done by after Saturday's match. The relevant bit of the report is as follows :

Only several pints in did it occur to us that we had won the home game, the last of the century, in similar style. We’d equalised late and then won at the death. In the two games combined, we’d probably had the lead for all of a couple of minutes. They have been two of the season's stupidest games. Oxford must bloody hate playing us. I hope they stop up. I hope we’re not playing them next season. And results like this are enough to make you start believing in fate.

PLEASE RELEASE ME

As if you didn't already know, eleven of our players are out of contract at the end of this season. Here's your chance to run the rule over them. Email me with your choices of who should stay and who should be allowed to leave - give your reasons why too, if you like. The eleven are :

 

Joey Beauchamp Jamie Cook Steve Davis Rob Folland

Nigel Jemson Pål Lundin Eddie Newton Les Robinson

Jon Shepheard Mark Watson Phil Whelan

McGREGOR TO MOVE

Former Oxford YTS lad, Marc McGregor, now has a £150,000 price tag attached, as Forest Green Rovers attempt to cash in on their major asset after interest (now discontinued) from Manchester City. The Gloucestershire club accept that they will lose McGregor at the end of the season, with many league clubs watching his recent performances.

HEARTBREAKER
(OXFORD 1 BURNLEY 2)

I really didn't have to make that crap joke about Paul Weller and five o'clock heroes, did I? Of course what happened was then inevitable. A match that kicked off late to pay respects to the Hillsborough dead of eleven years ago, was into injury time and very close to the crucial five o'clock when the aforementioned Mr Weller saw fit to head the winner for Burnley. It was his first goal for two years, and another late goal against Oxford - we have apparently conceded more in the last ten minutes than any other side in the division. We need more psychologists, I suspect.

So neither Ian Wright nor Andy Payton scored. But Wright was left free to provide an unchallenged cross for Weller's goal. Five minutes earlier Burnley's Steve Davis (ours was injured) had beaten Knight with an excellent looping header. Having weathered an early second half storm, and come back stronger, Oxford had yet again paid the price for a late lack of concentration and steel. Even as Matt Murphy scored his early goal, whilst I celebrated, I was thinking that we probably wouldn't hold onto the lead. I was right.

So depressing. But at least we're still outside the relegation zone. Just one of Cardiff, Scunthorpe, Blackpool and ourselves will stay in this division. Whether it is us or not depends on our getting points from our next three games. Seven would give us hope of needing just a draw at Millwall. Oh dear...

Denis for once captured the mood correctly, saying afterwards, "To lose like that is frustrating to say the least — I feel like hitting someone!"

ANOTHER DIARY DATE

The second (back-up) multiplex application will go to committee on May 5th (one day after the local elections). This application seeks to rectify the flaws in the previous application, flaws which allowed Pentith & Co to cause trouble. If the JR does go Pentith's way, then this new application is our only hope.

BURNLEY PREVIEW

Steve Anthrobus (thigh) and Mark Watson (scalded foot) are likely to be fit to play against the Clarets tomorrow. Paul Tait is a doubtful starter, though, with an upset stomach, and Paul Powell has had an infection and been unable to train all week. Neil McGowan is on standby as an emergency left-back, despite only just having returned to training after a broken leg. Denis had said recently that he thought it unlikely that McGowan would be fit enough to feature again this season, but Powell's malady may force his hand. Steve Davis is doubtful with a back problem, which may pave the way for Phil Whelan's return to the team. Please, no.

Ian Wright will remain a substitute for Burnley despite their striker Andy Cooke being doubtful with a thigh strain. Graham Branch would replace Cooke up front to partner Andy Payton, the division's top scorer. Payton scored a hat-trick in the 3-2 home win over the U's earlier this season. Tricky right-winger, Glen Little, is suspended, thankfully for Oxford as he has been a particularly impressive performer for Burnley in recent months, taking on and beating defenders in confident fashion. He will probably be replaced by Paul Weller, who hopefully will not prove to be the five o'clock hero for Burnley. (Ok, that was a bad joke...)

HAMP RELEASED

After news earlier in the week that two of the three second year YTS trainees, namely Dean Whitehead (midfielder) and Sam Ricketts (defender/midfielder), had been offered full professional contracts, it has now been confirmed that the third of their number, Adam Hamp (striker) has been released by the club.

A disappointed Hamp said, "I didn't think I'd been doing too bad, it just wasn't for me. It's even more of a disappointment because I live in Headington and Oxford United are on my doorstep. When you're told that you're not wanted, you just want the ground to open up and swallow you. But you've got to get on with your life. I'll be training even harder now."

Like the other two, Hamp was even given a squad number (26) this season, but unlike Dean Whitehead did not get into the first team squad at any stage.

Chris Hackett, who made his debut as sub against Wigan last weekend, is still only in his first year of his YTS, and thus has not yet been considered for a professional contract.

WEATHERSTONE DATE

Ross Weatherstone's court case has been adjourned until May 3 at the request of his defence. Ross and two others have been accused of racist abuse of a taxi driver in Reading in January.

BURNLEY SELL-OUT

A sell-out of the away end is expected to boost the attendance to perhaps the best at the Manor this season (currently 7355 against Bristol Rovers), as well-supported Burnley come to town. Burnley's support - always large - has apparently been further strengthened by the presence of Ian Wright as regular substitute for the side. Wright scored a spectacular injury-time winner for the Clarets against Notts County on Saturday, and Oxford's creaky defence will do well to keep him out.

It is imperative that Oxford get something out of the game (a draw would probably be considered a good result for the U's), as four relegation rivals play each other on Saturday. Cardiff are at home to Cambridge, and Scunthorpe pay a visit to the marvellous Bloomfield Road, Blackpool. A couple of draws in these matches would also do nicely.

Kick-off in all league matches on Saturday has been delayed until 3.06pm to mark the eleventh anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

WATSON'S DRINK PROBLEM

Mark Watson is doubtful for the Burnley match after scalding his foot by spilling hot drink over it. Clumsy, clumsy.

WHO NEEDS ANDRE?

South Africa proved they could do without injured keeper, Andre Arendse, as they won 2-0 in Lesotho in their first match of the 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign. His shoulder injury also looks set to keep Arendse out of the return leg in ten days time. Joh Tlale deputised for Andre.

NEWCASTLE WORK US OUT

Those bright folk at the Toon have already figured out how player pricing works at Oxford. Despite Denis slamming a £2million fee (fees are always "slammed" these days) on Paul Powell, the St James' Park club are reported as being hopeful of getting Powell for a million or less in the summer. We'll probably end up with £300,000 plus a reserve player in the end...

BANGER SENT OFF AGAIN!

Nicky Banger has done it again. For the third time this season, he has been sent off for Dundee. This time he saw red whilst playing for Dundee U21's (Scottish term for reserves) against Hibs on Monday. The red card was for two bookable offences, the first of which was kicking the ball away. According to Dundee manager, Jocky Scott, "It was an act of sheer stupidity on Nicky’s behalf." Well that makes a change...

ROSS IN COURT TODAY

Ross Weatherstone appeared in court today on charges of racist abuse aimed at a Reading taxi driver in January. I have no details, except that the radio has reported that the case has been adjourned.

WATSON QUOTES

There's an in-depth interview with Mark Watson in the Oxford Mail, but here are a couple of choice quotes from it:

• Amusingly, on Canada's win in the Gold Cup : "Other than (ice) hockey, and the odd drugged-up athlete, [Canada] don't win much internationally."
• More worryingly for his Oxford future: "The Premiership is a pretty exclusive club, but I'd love to play in it. If I got the chance, I think I can do it."

THREE WINS REQUIRED - DENIS

After their loss to a Wigan side described as "nervous" by both managers afterwards, Denis Smith set the target for the last five matches, saying, "If we win three more games, we'll stay up." This is more than likely true, but it could yet be tricky. Home games against off-form Brentford and struggling Scunthorpe look like good chances for three points, but I wouldn't like to bet on beating promotion contenders Burnley or Millwall. This leaves what could be an all-important away match against Bristol City. Unfortunately they are currently one of the form sides of the division, despite being out of contention for promotion. Our best hope is that the sides around us keep losing.

NO ICONOCLAST TODAY

Sadly the popular weekly update from our very own Iconoclast will not appear today. The following statement was issued in explanation:

"The Iconoclast regrets that due to a bizarre gardening accident he cannot fulfill his contractual duties this week. The Iconoclast got an arm trapped in a rotovator being operated by his mother, and is at present undergoing X-rays to ascertain the damage. He hopes to back next Monday."

9 April 2000

SAME OLD STORY
(WIGAN 2 OXFORD 0)

Simon Haworth (right) must enjoy matches against Oxford. For the second time this season he scored a couple of goals against the U's, and two goals is almost always enough to secure victory against the less than mighty U's. Reports from the JJB (Wigan are rich because Mr JJB makes them so) Stadium indicate that yet again Oxford had some chances, but didn't take them, yet again Derek Lilley played fairly well, and yet again our defence wasn't up to keeping a clean sheet. The only notable feature of the match was the debut of youth team winger Chris Hackett, who has long been hailed as "the next big thing" to emerge from the Oxford youth team. (Thus either he'll fade away into an also-ran or be sold at a fraction of his value to a Premiership shark within a few years.)

CONTRACTS AWARDED

Finally Oxford have offered a couple of players contracts for next season. It's not Joey Beauchamp or Mark Watson, but rather two of the final-year YTS lads, namely Dean Whitehead and Sam Ricketts. Midfielder Whitehead has already appeared for the first team this season, whilst defender Ricketts was allocated a squad number. No mention of the other YTS players who have been allocated first team squad numbers, namely Phil Wilson, Adam Hamp and Chris Hackett.

DATE OF DATE ANNOUNCEMENT ANNOUNCED

On Thursday 27 April a date for the Judicial Review hearing will be announced - or to give the technical term, the Judicial Review will "enter the court lists". The earliest that the JR is likely to take place is mid-May, but we might have to wait until August.

WIGAN PREVIEW

Oxford visit the division's rich kids, second-placed Wigan Athletic, tomorrow afternoon. Amazingly Oxford have won on both previous occasions they have played in Wigan, 1-0 in 1982 and 2-0 in 1983. Don't bet on a continuation of this sequence.

The U's are likely to be unchanged for their first visit to Wigan's new ground, assuming Steve Anthrobus recovers from a thigh injury picked up against Bournemouth. Nigel Jemson stands by to replace him. Promising young winger, Chris Hackett (17), has been added to the squad, and will be on the bench. Joey Beauchamp is still no nearer a return to the team, as his groin injury still troubles him. Ben Abbey is also injured, but Denis most likely wouldn't have picked him anyway.

Good news for the U's is that Wigan have striker problems, with Stuart Barlow (always a threat) out for the season, and Andy Liddell's muscle strain keeps him out as well. Unfortunately Simon Haworth, scorer of both Wigan's goals at the Manor, is available. He is likely to be partnered up front by Neil Roberts. Former Leeds left wing-back, Kevin Sharp, is suspended. Manchester City winger, Terry Cooke, has been allowed to stay on loan at Wigan for a second month, and will thus play against the U's.

MORE CLUBS AFTER POWELL?

TeamTalk reports that Derby and Leicester are being linked with Paul Powell.

RESERVES LOSE AGAIN

A very young and inexperienced (except for Mickey Lewis!) reserve side lost 4-1 at Leyton Orient yesterday. The game went ahead only after a pitch inspection had deemed a formerly waterlogged pitch to be playable. Rob Folland, Ben Abbey, Jon Shepheard and Dean Whitehead were the only members of the first team squad to get a game.

£2 MILLION POWELL?

According to yesterday's Times, Paul Powell is rated at £2 million, and Newcastle are still interested in him. What's the betting that if they do buy him in the summer, it's for no more than half that amount? They watched Powell again at the weekend, and are lining him up to replace Didier Domi, who is expected to leave in the summer.

SLIPPING BACK

Oxford slipped one place closer to the relegation zone last night, as Cambridge overtook us by winning their game in hand, 3-0 against Bury. Somewhat worryingly for us, Bury still have to play a few of our other relegation rivals - they were already 3-0 down when they had two players sent off. Hardly a good sign for their forthcoming matches against Blackpool and Cardiff.

KNIGHT EXTENDS LOAN

Richard Knight's loan spell has been extended until the end of the season to cover for Andre Arendse's injury. Arendse is thought unlikely to be fit to play again this season. Knight was originally due to return to Derby after Saturday's match at Wigan.

RESERVES PLAY TODAY

The reserves will try yet again to get that elusive victory this afternoon, as they play away at Leyton Orient (kick-off 2pm). Neither Nigel Jemson nor Simon Weatherstone will be included, as Steve Anthrobus is struggling with injury, which means that Denis is unwilling to risk the possibility of injury to his back-up strikers. Ben Abbey will play though, as Denis quite obviously doesn't rate him. Ditto Rob Folland.

McGOWAN ON THE MEND

Left back, Neil McGowan, who broke his leg a couple of months ago is making good progress, and could be back in training as early as next week. It was expected that McGowan would be out of action until the summer, but he could now be available for the closing weeks of the season. This would free Paul Powell to play in a more effective position - on the wing. Oxford are expected to arrange extra practice matches to aid McGowan's comeback.

MORE CLUBS CHASE McGREGOR

Former Oxford YTS trainee, Mark MacGregor (21), now a prolific striker with Conference strugglers Forest Green Rovers, is being chased by Cardiff City and Bristol Rovers, as well as Manchester City. MacGregor had a trial at Maine Road last week, but this was cut short due to injury.

YES, IT'S THE ICONOCLAST AGAIN...

I keep denying that this is an important club insider, but still people ask me who this iconoclast blokie is...

MILTON KEYNES LINK?

No this isn't a late April Fool, I promise you. Oxford are amongst a number of league clubs being spoken about in connection with a move to Milton Keynes, which is supposedly the largest population centre in Europe without a professional football club. A 45,000 all-seater stadium is being planned for Milton Keynes, and all that would then be lacking is a team to play in it. Reluctant to take the traditional route of steering a small team up through the non-league pyramid, Pete Winkelman, a music businessman who is heading the bid, is approaching professional clubs about a move to the area. Winbledon have inevitably been linked, and Oxford feature amongst the other clubs mentioned, along with Crystal Palace, Luton Town and Barnet.

Winkelman said of the plans, "I'm a great believer in the democracy of football. I do think the fans own the clubs but, at the end of the day, some of the clubs we're talking to at the moment are going to go out of business, or end up going backwards and I don't think that's what a majority of fans might want so, therefore, in the right circumstances, there's going to be an opportunity to move a club."

If you don't believe me, view the full story.

ECHOING OUR THOUGHTS?

There's an unintentionally amusing paragraph from the Bournemouth Daily Echo match report on Saturday's game:

Manager Smith is already perceived as a Messiah among the Manor Ground faithful having masterminded Oxford's elevation to Division One in 1996.

FINALLY
(OXFORD 1 BOURNEMOUTH 0)

Oxford finally got another home league win, only their fifth of the season, with a sparkling performance from Derek Lilley lighting up the Manor on a dark, rainy afternoon. Lilley got the only goal of the match, his shot taking a fortunate deflection off Eddie Howe before looping over the keeper, but his general play meant his goal was more than deserved. According to the stats, he had five of Oxford's six shots at goal, the sixth presumably being Jamie Cook's long shot that hit the post just before the break. Lilley ran the show after half-time, running at defenders, setting up chances, crunching into tackles - yet the sponsors still gave the MoM to the admittedly solid Mark Watson. Bizarre. Denis summed up Lilley's performance accurately, saying, "He was outstanding today, by far the man of the match."

Eddie Newton had a mixed debut, looking solid but not quite match-fit in midfield, and Denis' comments - "I thought he was sheer class. The number of balls he won was incredible." - rather over-praised his contribution.

Newton and Tait looked a promising combination, despite the latter's predeliction for passing sideways or backwards. The new Martin Gray? Matt Murphy continued to show his loss of form since the turn of the year, and should have been substituted. Phil Whelan went off early on with a broken nose, but had already had moments in which to demonstrate his lack of defensive intuition.

Generally the match was more exciting than recent home games, helped by a mad referee, Mike Ryan, who roused the crowd into a frenzy. Ryan's most controversial moment was when he disallowed a Bournemouth goal from a Christer Warren free kick because he ruled that it had been taken too quickly. As the free kick was for a dubious offence anyway, justice was done.