An UNCONFIRMED rumour is that Whitehead is about to sign for West Bromwich Albion for the piss-take sum of £250,000.
The official Oxford Web Page has confirmed that Phil Whitehead is in talks with Denis "Smith Out" Smith at West Bromwich Albion, and an unspecified (likely to be low) fee has been agreed between the clubs. Whitehead is the player we can least afford to lose, so let's hope he tells Smith where to go. I can't see that happening though.
Even our current troubles could not detract from the superb result and performance at Norwich. In the end, football is all about savouring good results when they come, and thus even rumours of West Brom offering us a paltry £500,000 for BOTH Powell and Whitehead could not spoil the day. These rumours are mentioned in the Daily Mail report on the match as well, so they might have some substance. When questioned about this offer, Malcolm Shotton said, "There are rumours about the transfers but you will have to speak to my chairman about them. I am just concentrating on the football. It's not upsetting me. I am a professional and I am just trying to get on with my job."
Another rumour is that Norwich are poised to bid £800,000 for Deano. I guess in the current climes one doesn't know what to believe...
Deano does get the strange quote of the week award for his post-match comment : "The commitment of the squad is amazing. There were even a couple of fights on the training ground on Friday." Hope he's joking!
Take a look at the Contributions page to see what fans of other clubs are saying in our support. Thanks to David Woollacott for sending me most of these from other sites' bullettin boards.
LATEST NEWS
Derby have decided not to pursue their interest in Paul Powell. Their manager, Jim Smith, apparently wants to bring in a player who can make an instant impression on Derby's Premiership fortunes. Smith said of a mooted move for Powell, "I am not pursuing that one at the moment. The next player to arrive needs to be somebody who can make a difference immediately. We are hoping to get someone in who will improve our passing and to do that it would have to be a player of proven ability."
The all-new Football League website has reported that it is the personal terms that were the sticking point of the Joey to Southampton deal. It reports Saints manager, Dave Jones, as saying there were "too many complications with everything involved about the transfer".
Scrap all this stuff about fees. Independent Radio News has just reported that Joey has had second thoughts, and turned Southampton down. TeamTalk has another take on the story, saying that he failed the medical yet again. Whatever the truth, he's staying at Oxford for now!
EARLIER NEWS
TeamTalk reports that Joey is having his medical this morning, and that the fee is likely to be £800,000. However, the Southampton Echo reported the fee as being around half the fee that Forest offered, i.e. about £400,000.
FOUL issued the following press release after yesterday's public meeting:
At a packed meeting in Oxford Town Hall on Wednesday evening over 700 Oxford United supporters raised almost £3,500 in a spontaneous fund raising gesture. The meeting, organised by supporters’ crisis group FOUL (Fighting for Oxford United’s Life), provided a resounding endorsement of the group’s campaign to find both short and long term solutions to United’s problems. The size of the turnout surprised many attending and one supporter said to resounding applause "I’ve been coming to meetings here for the last fifteen years and I’ve never seen it full like it is tonight. This shows that Oxford United is the most important thing to Oxford."
A range of speakers addressed the packed hall, including local councillors, former players and current employees of the football club. John Shuker, who played for the club in the 1960's and 70's and still holds the record for the number of professional appearances for Oxford, was very well received, as was an impassioned speech from Peter Rhoades-Brown, who runs the Football in the Community programme for the club. Rhoades-Brown explained how the work of the club extends into all areas of the community, including schools and colleges, and how devastating the affect would be to the whole community, not just the Oxford United supporters, should the club fold. In addition messages of support were read out from celebrity supporter Jim Rosenthal, former United skipper Mike Ford and from supporters of football clubs from throughout England and Scotland, reflecting the wider concern at Oxford’s plight.
The meeting gave FOUL a mandate to attempt to save the club by fundraising to solve United’s immediate cashflow crisis, and the group was also mandated to obtain more information from the club about the short term cash requirements. In order to achieve this FOUL will seek an urgent meeting with club’s board members regarding its cashflow needs. FOUL has determined that until the limited company's ownership situation is resolved all monies donated will be lent and not simply given to the club so that, if the unthinkable happens, the fans will have a voice in the club’s future.
FOUL also pledged that they will continue working towards the longer term aim of striving to set up a Bournemouth style "community club" should the current negotiations between the Oxford board and Grenoble Investments fail to reach a successful conclusion.
For further information please contact FOUL’s Press Officer Martin Brodetsky on 01865 248081.
If you want to join FOUL, please print off and fill in a FOUL Membership Form. You should then send it to the address given on the form.
Check out Mark Mallinson's review of the FOUL meeting on the FOUL page.
According to Keith Cox, interest is being shown in several players after our win over Port Vale. "We've had no offers yet but they tend to happen at the end of the week rather than at the start," Cox said. Joey is apparently having talks with Southmapton today with a rumoured fee of just £400,000. What a rip-off!
Steve Hanks, chairperson of FOUL, placed the following summary of the meeting on the Message Board :
A meeting next Wednesday in the supporters club to create a new committee and move forward. FOUL will never for its only aim the long term survival of Oxford United. Be there get involved. As one guy e-mailed in support, without the fans there is no club, and if nothing else we've demonstrated we really care.
The United board were criticised for their failure to find necessary funds to complete the development of their half-built new stadium where all work halted nearly two years ago. But the meeting agreed to active fund raising measures and Mr Hanks said: "This will be the largest fund raising campaign Oxford has ever seen. We will not allow Oxford United to die."
A report on TeamTalk claims that Jim Smith is indeed very interested in Paul Powell, but is not yet ready to make a move. Smith said, "Nothing has happened so far one way or another. He is away this week with the Football League team for the match with Italy's Serie B." Smith has already watched Poweel in action twice.
The following press release has been issued today by FOUL:
Embargoed until 1.00am 25/11/98
This evening, Wednesday 25th November, sees the culmination of the first stage of Oxford United supporters’ attempts to prevent the club’s closure, as crisis group FOUL holds a public meeting at Oxford Town Hall. The meeting starts at 7.30 and doors open at 7.00. People are advised to arrive early as a large attendance is expected.
Guest speakers include former United captain, and holder of the club’s appearance record, John Shuker, as well as former player and current Community Liaison Officer Peter Rhoades-Brown. Craig Brewin, National Treasurer of the Football Supporters Association, will also be speaking, as will Malcolm Niekirk, a solicitor who acted on behalf of AFC Bournemouth supporters in their attempts to create a community-based club.
FOUL organisers hope that one outcome of the meeting will be to galvanise support for the campaign. A spokesperson for the group said "We encourage people to come to the meeting wearing club colours to demonstrate our support for the continued survival of Oxford United. We hope to show that football supporters don’t have to sit passively by and watch our club die, but that we can mobilise and act to prevent that from happening." Members of the Oxford United board have promised to attend the meeting, which will be covered by local and national television, press and radio.
Further information can be obtained from the FOUL press officer, Martin Brodetsky, on 01865 248081.
There is an interesting report in SoccerNet about QPR, and the financial trouble they are now in. Gerry Francis is quoted as saying, "It is not far off being as bad as Oxford. The next 12 to 18 months could be critical." Rangers lost £5.5 million last year and they are so short of cash that they now want a transfer fee for Vinnie Jones, who hasn't trained with them for nearly two months. QPR are continuing to pay their former assistant manager's wages of around £4,000-a-week but have alerted clubs that Jones is for sale. It would cost Rangers £500,000 to settle his contract.
Jim Smith might be interested in the fact that Paul Powell (along with Simon Marsh) is in the starting line-up for the Nationwide U21 side, who are playing their Italian equivalents in Terni (Italy) this afternoon. This, I guess, will prevent Derby from making a move for Powell until at least Thursday. However it seems that Derby are not yet keen to make a move for Powell, as one suspects they have had enough time since Saturday to have done so by now.
It has been reported that both the BBC and Central TV will be covering the FOUL meeting tomorrow evening. The FOUL committee request that everyone attending should wear as much yellow and blue as possible. Please bring scarves, banners and flags, as this should help raise the TV profile of the event.
Little of note seems to have developed today. None of the Derby pages seem to mention anything about Powell at any rate.
The following press release was issued on Saturday by FOUL :
FOUL
Fighting for Oxford United’s Life
The public meeting organised by the supporters’ crisis group FOUL (Fighting for Oxford United’s Life), to take place at Oxford Town Hall on Wednesday 25th November, looks set to be a resounding endorsement of the campaign. FOUL committee members, who distributed flyers publicising the meeting to supporters attending United’s game against Port Vale, were delighted with the response they received from the fans. Judging by the numbers who announced their intention to attend the meeting the group is confident that the meeting will be very well attended. FOUL organisers would like to encourage as many people as possible to attend to try and fill the 550 capacity hall.
Confirmed speakers at the meeting include Oxford City Councillor Hollingsworth (in whose ward the Manor is located), Dave Nash (Oxford United’s Education Officer), Thames Valley FM sports reporter Jerome Sale, Malcolm Niekirk (a solicitor who represented AFC Bournemouth supporters in their successful attempt to create a community club) and Craig Brewin (National Treasurer of the Football Supporters Association). It is expected that this list will lengthen in the next three days. In addition many people and organisations have promised to send messages of support to be read out at the meeting.
FOUL organisers recommend that people arrive as early as possible at the meeting, which is due to start at 7.30, with the doors opening at 7.00pm.
For further details contact FOUL’s press officer Martin Brodetsky on 01865 248081.
There was some anger at Shotton at the ground on Saturday, after comments he made about Joey in the Oxford Mail. Apparently he slagged off Joey for not leaving Oxford. If the comments are those he is quoted as making in Sport First, then I don't think they were as bad as all that. He is quoted as saying, "He [Joey] is the only player there has been any interest in, and he only seems to want to play for his hometown club. If he doesn't want to play for another club, the brutal truth is he might not have a club to play for at all. The club is that close to going under."
Sport First also reported on how Shotton is likely to stay loyal to the cause unless he is given the boot. "Yes, I'll go for weeks without money if that's what it takes. We've had so many kicks in the teeth here that we're wearing gumshields. But I'm doing this for love in the hard times in the hope that it will all come good in the end."
The Independent on Sunday also gave Oxford a write-up, despite sadly taking the viewpoint that Cox is a loyal servant to the club, desperately trying to hold the place together in the face of villainy from Herd and Taylor Woodrow. I guess they spoke to Cox himself then! Cox is quoted as saying, "I know the way out of the maze, but everyone has to completely realistic about the consequences of falling over." Well he's good at mixing his metaphors at any rate... He also is quoted as saying about Joey's failed move to Forest : "At least they can't blame me for that." Thank you, Keith "Persecution Complex" Cox.
A rumour I heard on Saturday was that Kilmarnock were poised to offer
around a million for Gilly. Note that this is only a rumour.
Jim Smith's attendance at the Manor to watch a scintillating performance
by Paul Powell could well mean we're receiving an offer for Powell shortly.
Malcolm Shotton has urged as many supporters as possible to attend the Port Vale match, both to roar the team on, and to help the club coffers.
Messages of support for FOUL have been received from Mike Ford, John Aldridge, Jim Smith and Jim Rosenthal, amongst others. None of the aforementioned will be able to attend the public meeting, but all have indicated their support for FOUL.
It turns out that Reading had offered just £500,000 for Joey. His price seems to drop and drop. Rumours in some sources that the deal with Reading was a loan deal seem to be unfounded. They definitely wanted to buy him but he turned them down. Reading manager, Tommy Burns, said, "We made an enquiry for the player but he has said he is not interested and that is the end of it."
Meanwhile Forest have decided to look at Andy Impey of West Ham after the Beauchmap deal fell through.
I must just recommend Chris Remy's page once again. His account of how the YTS trainees are feeling about their uncertain future is particularly poignant. It is obvious all the players are being affected by the crisis, despite their being the only employees at the club who have been paid!
According to the Nationwide Site, Joey has turned down a new offer from Manchester City, and also an offer from Reading. He has reiterated that he is only interested in a move to the Premiership.
FOUL sweatshirts will be on sale at the Port Vale match on Saturday, as printed by Steve Hanks. If you want to order one, email Steve Hanks. The shirts are priced at £20, with sizes of Medium, Large and Extra Large.
The official web page has published a Q&A session with the Board of Directors. Not much of note is said, but the salient points are:
The situation at the club was today described as "desperate", with the club needing to sell a player by the weekend in order to avoid going into administration, according to the Oxford Mail. Non-playing staff, including Malcolm Shotton and Mark Harrison, have now not been paid for six weeks.
Supporter Matthew Hardy has organised an all-night five-a-side tournament on 11 December (if we're still around by then!!). Anyone wishing to sponsor this tournament can call Matthew on 01993 882099.
The Nationwide Site has carried a report of how U's fan, Terry Gardener, has set up a fund to help the club. The report is as follows:
Thames Valley FM reported this morning that Oxford are a week away from administration unless we can sell a player or the takeover is completed. There have been no offers for players except for the Forest-Joey business. There is stil no news on how the takeover talks are progressing. Shouldn't we be told?
I read on Ceefax last night of yet another club in trouble, namely Scarborough FC, whom the PFA have had to help with paying players' wages (sounds familiar). Scarborough were bought by businessman Anton Johnson at the start of the season, and it seems he is not too popular with the fans at Scarborough, who reckon him to be a crook. Read their views, if you are interested, on this Scarborough message board. It does seem like clubs all over the place are in danger of going bust, and nobody much cares apart from their fans...
According to Oxford physio, John Clinkard, there is nothing wrong with Joey Beauchamp. Apparently Forest gave him an MRI sacn, and discovered a problem, but Clinkard claimed, "Most medical people I know don't rely on these scans. They aren't particularly reliable. You look instead at playing records and Joey has missed six games in four years. If I was presented with the same evidence I would sign him."
The following press release was issued today by FOUL :
The purpose of the meeting is to publicise the plight of Oxford United
FC and to highlight the potential consequences of
the club’s closure to the community. FOUL hopes to demonstrate to all
parties interested in the future of Oxford United,
from the current board and owner through to potential new owners, local
councils and businesses and all residents of
Oxfordshire, that there is a large number of people who care deeply
about the club’s fate and who are prepared to actively
support the continuation of professional football in the city.
As well as calling for supporters of the club to attend this meeting,
FOUL has invited a number of local councillors,
Members of Parliament, OUFC board members, prominent local businessmen,
former players and celebrity supporters to
attend the meeting as guest speakers. We are hoping for a positive
response. In addition we have also asked for speakers
from other clubs who have been near to closure and survived, such as
AFC Bournemouth, Brighton and Hove Albion,
Chester City etc, to come and share their experiences with the meeting.
FOUL wants Oxford United to survive, and this meeting is the first step towards survival.
Oxford, united, will never be defeated.
Another press release will be made nearer the time, when some of the guest speakers have been confirmed.
Anyway, Joey's move to Forest fell through owing to the fact that he failed the medical. Forest manager, Dave Bassett, said: "The deal has been called off for medical reasons. I'm disappointed and feel sorry for the lad but I can't afford to take a risk on someone who is not fit."
LATEST NEWS
Joey's move is OFF according to TeamTalk.
It seems Joey's move is definitely on hold because of problems with his medical, reportedly concerning his back and his toe. According to the Oxford Mail he is undergoing further medical tests, and the paper suggests that Forest may try to buy him on an appearance-related basis, i.e. try to rip us off even more. Even Dave Bassett admitted that they would have been getting Joey on the cheap, saying, "We agreed to deal with Oxford and got him quite cheaply. They needed to do a deal quickly." Vultures...
It seems that the money for Joey would be divided between Swindon (who had a 20% sell-on clause), Aberdeen (for Windass payment), the non-playing staff (yet to receive their wages), and Lloyds Bank.
EARLIER NEWS
Joey Beauchamp is reportedly thinking over the move to Nottingham Forest. Just a guess, but I get the feeling he'll go. He's always said he would leave for Premiership football, and Nottingham is relatively close to Oxford. Malcolm Shotton has apparently said, "If we don't get the money in, we will fold." That's really allowing Joey a free choice then...
The papers this morning reported that Bolton are £17 million in debt. This figure is balanced by the fact that they still haven't managed to sell their old ground, but even so, it's a lot of debt. They say they may have to sell more players (Nathan Blake already went for £4 million). If a club like Bolton is in that much trouble, what hope for us?
Nottingham Forest are apparently having talks with Joey Beauchamp today with a view to an £800,000 (what, only?) move, according to TeamTalk. If this is true, then Joey is going to be seriously underpriced. Are we really that desperate for cash that we sell our players for peanuts? I guess we are, and it happens every time...
Also Danny Hill has been given a free transfer, and has joined Cardiff City. This is apparently to bring our wage bill down. It also brings our squad size down to a paltry 22 (assuming Joey leaves).
The following is the press release issued from last night's meeting :
FOUL
Fighting for Oxford United’s Life
On Tuesday 10th November a group of Oxford United supporters met to
discuss how they and other supporters of the club could work together
to
ensure the long term survival of Oxford United Football Club.
At the meeting, which took place at the Oxford United Supporters Club,
it was decided to form a supporters group to give Oxford fans a voice
and to publicise the fact that there are great many people who care
very
deeply about the future of Oxford United. An interim committee
was set
up to start the work of the group which will be known as FOUL (Fighting
for Oxford United’s Life).
It was agreed that FOUL’s main aim should be to highlight and publicise
both the very real threat of closure that the club faces and the far
reaching implications that this could have, not only for football
supporters, but the wider community and businesses throughout the city
of Oxford and the county as a whole.
FOUL understands that it is extremely important to include as many
Oxford United supporters as possible in this campaign and therefore
plans to hold a much larger meeting in Oxford to "kick-off" the campaign
and demonstrate that there are a significant number of people who won’t
stand by and let professional football die in Oxfordshire.
Details about a venue and guest speakers for the meeting will be
released as soon as they have been arranged.
FOUL Interim Committee:
Steve Hanks (Chair)
Martin Brodetsky (Press Officer)
Mark Mallinson (Marketing Officer)
Chris Dammers (Football Liaison Officer)
Paul Beasley (Treasurer)
Rob Hedges (Secretary)
John Evans (Meeting Logistics)
Dean Windass' agent has also dismissed the reports, saying "He has only just signed for Oxford and he wants to settle down and get on with his football. We've not had one club show an interest in buying him and the story that Sheffield Wednesday are after him is pure rubbish. Dean knows the financial predicament Oxford are in and if they receive an offer for him and feel they want to sell him, he will understand that. But at the moment, he is there to support the club and do what he can for the team."
Reminder : There is a meeting tonight in the social club of the Manor at about 7pm. This is a meeting for Oxford fans to discuss the latest devlopments, and is organised by Martin Brodetsky, one of the editors of Rage On. See this message board for details.
Joey Beauchamp has reiterated that he won't leave Oxford because of the current crisis, according to the Express. "It is a hard predicament to be in. The situation is desperate, but I am happy, and don't want to move on unless I'm going to a better deal", said our Joseph.
Sheffield Wednesday are being linked with an £800,000 move for Dean Windass. The TeamTalk site reports that Wednesday are searching for a new striker, and are leading the hunt for Windass, with Southampton, Wolves and Bolton also interested.
Apparently Phil Gilchrist's absence from the team was because of illness - so he's not necessarily about to leave just yet. Someone may be though, as Malcolm Shotton admits that the need to sell is so great that he's considering sending a circular to all 91 other league clubs. Shotton is also considering his future in the job, as he has not yet been paid, and claims that Cox intimated to him that he would not get the full amount.
Rumour of the week : Sighted in Aberdeen over the weekend - Dean Windass.
According to the Daily Mail (yes, that rag), Joey Beauchamp has accepted that he may have to leave Oxford in order to prevent them from going under. He is still insistent that he will only move to a Premiership club though. He said: 'I still want to play in the Premiership and that's why I've turned down moves to Fulham and Manchester City. I definitely don't want Second Division football.' (unless perhaps it's with Oxford?). The same paper said that Joey made little impression on the game after coming on as a sub. Their reporter evidently averted his eyes when Joey made a fine run down the left to set Matt Murphy up for a certain goal (which of course he missed).
WEEKEND NEWS
I'll start with the disturbing absence of Phil Gilchrist from the team that lost 2-0 at Watford. I hope it was just a late knock, rather than (as some fans feared) that he was talking terms with another club. Probably just paranoia on our part!
Malcolm Shotton didn't sound too positive after the weekend's match, saying, "I will go on as long as I can but you have to draw the line somewhere. I have not drawn it yet."
News from over the weekend is that Oxford have assured all non-playing staff, including manager Malcolm Shotton, that they will be paid in "days rather than weeks". This is after it was confirmed that Keith Cox managed to convince Lloyds Bank to extend the club's overdraft facility.
The club also confirmed that Grenoble Investments Ltd (sans John
Gunn) are still interested in buying Oxford, but have two main areas of
concern. One is that there is a Local Plan designation on the Manor
insisting that it be kept as a football ground until a suitable replacement
is found. In other words they can't develop on the Manor until the new
stadium is complete. (This I would imagine would come as some relief to
fans, meaning that no prospective buyer can do what Bill Archer did to
Brighton - sell their ground, and then leave them with nowhere to play).
The other area of concern was not specified.
A meeting will be held between Taylor Woodrow and Grenoble in order to get an agreement over the completion of Minchery Farm. This meeting is likely to take place this week.
Cox also issued the following statement : "We are quite sincere about the very poor prospects of the business. Because of the Taylor Report implementations, because we can't ground-share indefinitely and because as a trading issue, the business makes more sense at new premises, a deal has to be done quickly. We've been given time by people being supportive. We think it's much better to sell the club as a going concern rather than out of administration where you lose goodwill."
This sums up the major future concern (apart from the finanical hazards) for Oxford, namely that if they stay in this division, they must be playing in an all-seater stadium next season. They thus have three options : complete the new ground in time, redevelop the Manor (ludicrous), or ground-share, perhaps with Wycombe. A fourth option is of course to get relegated...
Cox also once again attacked the local press, reasserting that John Gunn had pulled out of the consortium owing to negative headlines rather than reportedly being misled over financial matters. Cox also attacked "fanzine editors" for being so quick to believe the latter point of view. Well I guess if the club had always been straightforward about matters financial in the past... (It's called "crying wolf", Keith)
Keith Cox denied that Dean Windass would be returning to Aberdeen. Windass
apologised for his earlier statement that he hoped the club would go into
administration so he could be sold. Windass said, "I didn't know that going
into administration would mean staff at
the club possibly losing their jobs. I came to the club because I thought
things were going to happen. I could have stayed at Aberdeen where
I still had a year to run on my contract. I thought it might be best
for United if the club went into administration to get some money for me.
But I realise some staff have been upset by the comments. I apologise to
them."
According to Thames Valley FM, the takeover of the club is still on, but Malcolm Shotton has been told he might have to sell players (I guess that probably means Deano, as he's up for sale) in the short term.
The following story appeared in today's edition of the Aberdeen-based Press and Journal :
The English First Division side, currently facing financial difficulties,
yesterday paid its
players -- including Windass -- their missing wages after receiving
bank funds.
Now moves are afoot for the club to pay off the remainder of the
money it owes, including
settling the £450,000 fee Oxford are due Aberdeen for the former
Hull City striker.
Oxford have since put the former Don on the transfer list in an attempt
to generate money and
the Dons would most likely be among the first to benefit when the English
club finds a buyer
for Windass.
Aberdeen, however, may still have to wait for a few more days for unpaid
transfer money. The
Dons would not set a date for payment but discussions will continue
over the next week
between the two clubs.
A Dons spokesman said last night: "We will not be making a statement
about the player as there
are talks under way."
The board are meeting today to decide the future course of the club. This could be an extremly important meeting - with a bit of luck the board will actually tell the fans what has been discussed...
LATEST NEWS
The Press Association now reports that the players HAVE been paid today, and have thus called off their strike threat. Intriguingly, the report also says that "Oxford managed to avert having to go into administration when crisis meetings with their bank and a consortium planning to take over the club reached successful outcomes yesterday".
It is not clear exactly what this report means, but it might just be a hopeful sign...who knows!? It's probably just taken from a club statement.
EARLIER NEWS
Independent Radio News reports that the players have received assurances from the club that they will be paid, and thus they will take part in Saturday's game at Watford.
The Official Web Site (upbeat as always) agrees that the players will now be paid following Keith Cox's talk with Lloyds Bank. The site also suggests that the threat of administration may have receded just a bit. Apparently talks between Robin Herd and Grenoble Investments went "very well". Hmmm...
The Press Association reports that Dean Windass may be forced (against
his will) to return to Aberdeen within the next week.
Oxford United office staff have issued a press release as follows :
Unlike some, we do not wish to see the club in administration with the
possibility of our colleagues or ourselves
out of the jobs we love.
We would like to thank the numerous supporters who have phoned and called
in person with messages of
support we are, as always, 100% behind the club and are sure that we
will come out of this situation stronger,
collectively and individually.
Malcolm Shotton had little sympathy for the players, saying, "I understand their feelings but they know they're going to be paid. Other staff, including myself, don't. I wish players who have grievances would come and say them to my face." Shotton also believed there was no way the players would go on strike.
Cox also announced that a board meeting will be held on Friday to discuss the future of the club. This meeting will determine whether the club goes into administration. It is not yet apparent whether Grenoble Investments Ltd. is continuing its interest in the club, and members of the consortium are meeting with Robin Herd today, after yesterday's meeting was postponed.
The players have threatened to strike for the league match against Watford unless they have have received their wages by that time. So much for still giving 100%, but I guess one can hardly blame them...
No news on player sales, or confirmation that Dean Windass has officially been put up for sale. I guess the whole squad is effectively on sale. According to the Official Page, Joey Beauchamp has turned down a move to Manchester City, who offered over a million, stating he has no desire to move up north. This decision was taken before it became apparent that John Gunn had pulled out of the consortium.
News finally started to break about what was actually going on at the club, and the danger in which it once again finds itself. The Oxford Mail ran an article which revealed that the players had not been paid during for the month of October. In addition, the wages had been late for the previous two months, and the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) had bailed Oxford out by loaning them thousands of pounds towards these wages.
None of the players or backroom staff, including manager Malcolm Shotton, have been paid, and the players issued the following announcement :
"For the past three months our wages have been paid late because of
the
club's plight and have also been part-paid by the PFA.
"For the month of October we still have not been informed whether we
will
receive payment at all.
"So, because of this, all promotional work for the club will not be
fulfilled until further notice.
"We apologise to the fans for any inconvenience but we are sure we will
have
your support for further action we may take in the near future.
"And you have our assurance that we will still give 100 per cent."
In a further twist it emerges that Aberdeen have still not yet been paid "a penny" for Windass, and he could be recalled there at any time. Windass indicated that he was not keen to return to Aberdeen, but said that he hopes the administrators are called in on Thursday (why did he pick this day in particular?), so that he can be sold.
The following appeared in the Press and Journal, an Aberdeen newspaper :
Aberdeen have been advised by Oxford that talks between the Nationwide
First Division side's
majority shareholder and a consortium wishing to purchase the shareholding
are taking place.
A Pittodrie spokesman said: "We do not propose to comment on any speculation
surrounding
the transfer of Dean Windass until the outcome of these talks is known."
News broke over the weekend of how John Gunn, backer of Grenoble Investments Limited, has pulled out of the deal to buy the club. Gunn claims he has been misled about the finances of the club. The club however blamed adverse publicity from the local newspaper for his decision. (As the boardmembers have consistently blamed everyone but themselves for Oxford's numerous mishaps over the last few years, this ought to be taken with more than a pinch of salt). Also the fans have long felt for themselves the reluctance of the board to tell the truth about the club's financial state, so Gunn's statement has the ring of truth about it.
It remains to be seen whether the consortium can survive despite the
withdrawal of Gunn, but it seems unlikely.