Oxford lost 3-1 at home to Walsall last night in an abject performance, apparently very different from that against Derby. Steve Anthrobus got Oxford's goal, whilst Steve Davis worryingly went off injured. Let's hope that's not his season over again! A trialist named Ben Abbey (a Crawley Town striker who got 34 goals in all competitions for the Doc Marten's League side last season) came on and looked more than reasonable on the right and upfront. Andy Thomson, fresh from scoring four goals for the reserves against Banbury, was back to his old self against better quality opposition. The words "score" and "brothel" come to mind.

I have gathered more information on the trialist, Ben Abbey (left). He is apparently well-known in non-league circles as one of the brightest prospects outside the league. He has already played for both Brentford and Bournemouth reserves on trial, scoring for the former against West Ham's second string team. According to Non League on the Net, even West Ham and Chelsea have had scouts watching Abbey earlier this year. He joined Crawley from Maidenhead United in October 1997, and has since impressed many with his speed and goalscoring. A 20 year old university Business student, he has recently admitted that all the attention has been affecting him. "It's a bit unsettling - I don't know if I'm coming or going. It's hard to combine football with university but obviously football is my real ambition." Reading, Luton and West Brom are other clubs who have been linked with Abbey.

There are rumours that Shotton is once again interested in released Milwall right back, Gerard Lavin. However Lavin is currently in talks with Bristol City, so this seems unlikely. Lavin has apparently talked to four or five clubs this summer, but has only played in matches for Bristol City.

Oxford take on Walsall tonight in the Bill Halsey Memorial Cup - in other words it's the second and last pre-season friendly at the Manor. I'm still coming to terms with the fact that we are now a division below the Saddlers. Neither Mark Bowen nor Lee Nakamoto will be on trial anymore. Presumably Shotts is not going to pursue them any further. Youth teamer, Andrew Richards, who was on the bench for the Derby match, will be in the squad again.

OXFORD BANDS PLAY BENEFIT - TONIGHT

Four Oxford bands are playing a benefit gig for the club tonight (8pm) at the Oxford United Social Club. The bands are Arthur Turner's Lovechild? (who did the "You are my sunshine" club song a few years back), The Samurai Seven, Overground and The Four Storeys. I found these links thanks to the excellent Nightshift webzine.

LAST NIGHT'S MATCH

Steve Anthrobus got the headed goal in what was apparently an excellent performance by the Us, with Gilly also heading against the bar. Derby had much possession but didn't threaten much. Joey (who provided the goal) and Powell both reportedly looked very lively. Oxford also fielded a trialist substitute named Lee Nakamoto, who played on the right and looked fairly lively. He is apparently from the USA, is 22, and recently had a trial at QPR. Here's a match report from the Derby Evening Telegraph's www.TheRams.co.uk website.

Details of our trialist, Lee Nakamoto, can be found here. Search the page for "Nakamoto" to find his details. He is presently at Sutton United, and describes himself as "striker, left wingback, left attacking midfielder".

OXFORD 1 DERBY 0

Oxford reportedly played well against a fairly strong Derby line-up.

WINDING UP PETITION DISMISSED

The winding up order brought against the club by Wallace & Partners (Robin Herd's solicitors) was dimissed by the High Court today. The petition was for a sum of £66,000 owed to the law firm - for legal fees from the sale of the club to Firoz Kassam. But the club is now officially solvent, after yesterday's CVA was accepted by the creditors, and thus the petition was dismissed.

Oxford's debt situation is now as follows :

• £9 million owed to unsecured creditors has been reduced to £900,000 by the CVA. The latter sum has been guaranteed (deposited with solicitors) by Firoz Kassam. Taylor Woodrow are owed the major chunk (75%) of this.
• £5.5 million of further debts are secured on the Manor, and cannot be paid off until the Manor is sold.

OFT RULING

LATEST : The High Court has found in favour of the current TV deal, meaning that the Premiership does have the right to sell the TV rights of its clubs as a single package. According to some reports, this means that the small clubs will all be ok now. Or rather, about as ok as they've ever been since the Premiership was formed...

A ruling by the Office of Fair Trade (OFT) is expected today about whether the Premiership is entitled to sell its television rights as a single body, or whether individual clubs should sell their TV rights separately. A lot of guff has been written about this in the national press, who talk as if the distribution of wealth in football is currently the epitome of fairness. However the arguments given against the current SKY deal seem to deal only with the needs of armchair Premiership fans - they talk as if all football fans are Premiership fans, and all football fans are obsessed with seeing their clubs on TV the whole time.

What is clear is that whichever way the decision goes, the problems of small clubs will be ignored. What is really needed is government intervention to ensure a fairer distribution of wealth amongst all clubs. Will we get it? I think we all know the answer to that one.

DERBY MATCH TONIGHT

Oxford play their first home friendly tonight (7.45 pm) - the only match against Premiership opposition. Derby will be fielding a mix of first-team and reserve players. The Rams include 22 year old Dutch trialist, Nordin Wooter, in their squad, which is as follows: Poom, Laursen, Delap, Elliott, Jackson, Eranio, Johnson, Dorigo, Wooter, Beck, Baiano, Oakes, Riggott, Boertien, Robinson, Murray, Le Geyt.

FOUL PRESS RELEASE

FOUL issued the following press release in the aftermath of yesterday's important developments:

Good News for United, but the fight goes on

Oxford United’s independent supporters group FOUL (Fighting for Oxford United’s Life) today welcomed the news that the Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) has been agreed by the football club’s creditors.  The CVA means that United only has to pay its unsecured creditors ten percent of what they are actually owed in a move which means that the club’s debts are virtually wiped out and which makes the club solvent.

FOUL committee member David Pryor said “This is a very important hurdle which the club has overcome.  At last we can get back on an even keel and have United run as a proper business, with an almost clean slate.”

However, FOUL’s Press Officer Martin Brodetsky warned that the football club was not safe yet from the threat of closure.  “The most important factor in the survival of Oxford United remains the planning consent for the multiplex cinema at Minchery Farm,” he said “without which administration or even closure remains a distinct possibility.  We urge the Secretary of State for the Environment to heed the overwhelming majority of Oxford’s residents and allow this development to proceed, and we ask him to make his decision soon.”

Pryor went on to say “Whilst the CVA agreement is good news there is no room for complacency.  FOUL will continue to do everything it can to ensure that the multiplex application is not called in.  The fight for United’s future continues, but at last there is some light at the end of the tunnel.”

Quote from Denis Smith after being given the heave-ho by West Brom yesterday: "I will now be looking for work with somebody who needs a good manager."

CVA APPROVED!

News has come in that the creditors have approved the CVA. Woo-hoo!

Apparently the meeting didn't last as long as anticipated, because Taylor Woodrow represented a large proportion of the votes, and they were in favour of the CVA from the start. Taylor Woodrow did take advantage of their position by forcing through a clause that gives them first option to buy the Manor at its value on the open market.

The directors of the club have said that no players will be sold. Now where have we heard that one before?

WHELAN TO LEAVE?

Phil Whelan is once again in talks with various clubs, as it is apparent that he does not figure a large part in Oxford's plans. Oxford would apparently want a small fee for Whelan. Shotton also hopes to be able to add to his squad this week. One addition might be Mark Bowen, who will possibly be playing in this week's friendlies against Derby and Walsall.

CHEER UP DENIS SMITH...

Just sacked by West Brom. It had been coming. Just yesterday his players complained that they had lost in a friendly to Derby because the grass wastoo long!

EARLIER NEWS
CVA MEETING TODAY

Today sees the meeting of Oxford United's creditors, who are getting together to decide whether to accept Firoz Kassam's offer of a CVA (Corporate Voluntary Arrangement or Company Voluntary Arrangement, depending on whom you ask!). This would mean each creditor would receive 10 pence for every pound owed by the club. Kassam himself is optimistic that the creditors are in favour of the CVA. The number of creditors who would need to agree to the proposed CVA for it to be binding on all creditors is :

• 75% of the creditors by value of money owed, and
• 50% of creditors in number

For those of you who are interested here are a few links that explain the concept of a CVA and its advantages both to debtor and creditors :

• CVA explained in brief
• Reasons why a CVA is better for a company and its creditors
• Words of warning on a CVA

"I hope we get the CVA through. It will be another major obstacle out of the way and then we will be waiting for the decision of the Government Office on the multiplex cinema.The CVA is important for the Club to survive. To get the Club back on a sound financial footing we need to clear the historic debts which are quite substantial. Carrying those debts, I cannot see the Club moving forward and it is important for the Club to move forward".

The DETR is yet to rule on the holding order placed on the planning application for a multiplex near Minchery Farm. Their ruling would be either to drop the holding order (meaning the plans can be officially ratified at local level), or to call a public enquiry which could delay any decision on the planning application for months.

Today is the final day before the parliamentary recess, and thus if no decision is made by the DETR today, none will be made until parliament opens once more in a month's time. Thames Valley FM spoke to a DETR spokesperson yesterday, and were told that no decision is imminent on the multiplex holding order. This contrasts with Kassam's optimism of last week, wshere he felt that a decision would be made by today.

TAN TALK

Anybody wondering what had become of Nicky Banger? First he talked up rumours that first division clubs (Man City and Stockport) were after him, then he trained with Walsall, who also didn't want him. Now he's dropped his requirements by a division, and has been on trial at Bournemouth for the last week. The official Bournemouth website describes him as having "a reputation as a fast and clever striker". Hmm. Banger played one half of the Cherries' friendly against Leicester City and came up against Matt Elliott. Guess who won that battle?

It has been confirmed that Peter Fear will miss the first three matches of the season after hsi sending-off at St Mirren. Oxford are thus down to a squad of 17 for those matches.

So Oxford have taken former Norwich and Wales full back, Mark Bowen, on trial. This sits interestingly with Shotton's remarks about Garry Parker being too old to add to the long term future of the club. Parker is 33 (turning 34 in September). Bowen is 35 (turning 36 in December). Parker is from Oxford, and was keen to join. Both players were on the books of Premiership clubs last season. It would be interesting to know the real reasons behind Shott's decision on Parker. Wage demands, perhaps? 

Oxford beat Northern Premier League side Blyth Spartans 3-1 this afternoon. Oxford's scorers were Murphy, Joey and Anthrobus in the second half after Blyth had gone ahead in the first through full back Micky Farrey. On trial for the Us was 35 year old former Wales full back, Mark Bowen, who apparently was not up to much. Bowen was released by Charlton last month. He will train with the Oxford squad next week. 

FOUL met with Firoz Kassam in midweek and the Rage Online Comment carries full details. The salient points are as follows:

• Kassam thinks the CVA will go through as planned on 27 July, as most creditors (even Cox) support it.
• Kassam thinks the multiplex application will not be called in, and that this decision would be made before the parliamentary recess (also July 27).
• If both items above go Kassam's way, he will make further money available for team spending.
• One issue of concern to Kassam is that the City Council are protecting the club by refusing other development on Minchery Farm land before the stadium is completed. (Personally I think this is a damned good ruling.)

Unipart have signed a one year deal to continue as Oxford's club (and shirt) sponsors. The deal is apparently worth marginally less than last season's. Negative inflation or just typical Oxford?

I assume by now that most people are bored with endless reports on the St Mirren match. If not, here's yet another one!

A further report on "English boot boys Oxford" (that's the tabloids for you) can be found in The Daily Record (sadly as they don't keep an archive, this highly amusing report is now lost forever...)

Malcolm Shotton defended his side's approach, saying, "I was very pleased with the commitment of the side and the win is a good morale booster for everyone. They hate the English here in Paisley so it's nice to put one over them." So Oxford were fighting a nationalist cause then, eh? Scary stuff, Malc.

DIRTY SOUTHERN BASTARDS

Oxford won 1-0 at St Mirren tonight with a performance described as "tough-tackling" and "heavyweight" by a St Mirren website. Oxford were reduced to ten men after a stamping incident by Peter Fear, from which St Mirren's Chris Kerr was apparently lucky to escape without serious injury. Jamie Cook got the goal, a looping header, shortly after Fear's dismissal. Arendse apparently played an absolute blinder in goal. Another (very angry) St Mirren report can be found here. Team line-ups are available from yet another St Mirren site.

Thames Valley FM reports that Fear will now miss the first three matches of the season. Just what we needed.

EARLIER NEWS

According to Thames Valley FM, Shotts will not be offering Icelandic international striker, Stefan Thordarsson, a contract. He produced his usual quote that he wasn't interested in players worse than those we already have. However he may fly to Scandinavia to keep an eye on Thordarsson in the future.

Oxford play their second pre-season friendly tonight, at St. Mirren. The Paisley side have already beaten a full-strength Rangers team 2-1 in a friendly, and most recently beat Blackpool 1-0 away.

A County Council meeting was held yesterday, at which the resolution that follows was agreed. What it actually means for the club is open for debate. It's basically waffle.

The Council recognises the value to the communities of Oxfordshire provided by Oxford United FC with an excellent record of assistance towards sport in the area.

Council recognises the particular difficulties faced by the Club in achieving its proposed move to Minchery Farm, but also the general dilemmas of smaller clubs in sustaining commercial viability in the evolving pattern of professional football.

Planning provision must be for the benefit of the people and their communities. Accordingly Council acknowledges, and understands, the overwhelming support for the team and the tremendous effort put in by the Club, Oxford City Council for giving the land, and support groups such as FOUL in working to secure a viable future for Oxford United. We recognise the validity of Government policy towards developments like the proposal for Minchery Farm. We believe the policy (as detailed in PPG17) is flexible enough to ensure that all the relevant, and special circumstances, can be taken into account to allow this matter to be properly determined.

Oxford lost last night to just about the last kick of the ball, as Neil Scally scored late on ("a weak shot through a crowded penalty area") to give Ayr United a 1-0 win. Judging by comments on an Ayr United fans' forum, their team played exceptionally well. Looks like we've got some work to do... (A Daily Record report of the match can be found here.)

Barrow have won their appeal to be admitted into the Unibond (Northern) Premier league after being expelled by the Conference last month. The Cumbrian side faced an uncertain future in the regional leagues until convincing the FA that they should be allowed to rejoin the pyramid one level below the Conference. Barrow were expelled from the Conference after going bankrupt and reforming as Barrow AFC (1999).

PHOTOCALL

Andrew Roper has developed, scanned in and sent me some of the photos he took of the Barnet demo on Saturday. You can see the results here.

LATEST NEWS - CITY APPROVE MULTIPLEX

The City Council today officially approved the planning permission for a nine screen multiplex cinema near Minchery Farm. Council leader, John Tanner, also called for the GOSE to lift its holding order on the application. Apparently the Green Party attempt a late delaying bid, claiming that the application had not been discussed in enough detail by the Council planning committee.

AYR 1 OXFORD 0

Oxford lost their first friendly of the pre-season tonight, going down 1-0 to Scottish first division side, Ayr United.

ANOTHER COUNCIL MEETING...

Oxford City Council meet (yet again) this afternoon at 4.00pm to discuss the Minchery Farm multiplex application for what should be the final time. This should be a rubber-stamping exercise, ratifying the decision of the council's planning committee to allow the planning permission. The Council decision will only mean anything if/when the GOSE holding order on the application is lifted. FOUL will have representatives at the meeting.

If the holding order has not been lifted by 26 July (next Monday), the parliamentary recess will mean that it cannot be lifted until September. Ulp.

FIRST MATCH TONIGHT

Oxford play their first pre-season match tonight, away to Malcolm Shotton's former club, Ayr United. Stefan Thordarsson is likely to make another bid to impress Shotton, if his international clearance has come through in time.

The Barnet demo yesterday went extremely well, in the best traditions of the Fans United events. Thanks to all the Oxford fans who turned up, making us what I suspect was the second largest contingent - second, of course, to the many hundreds of Barnet fans. Fans of many clubs were there - I won't attempt to list them for fear of omitting some - and I was impressed by the amount of knowledge the various fans had about other clubs' varying crises. A big thanks to James Schall (Swiss Bloke) for carting the massive wreath from Oxfordshire by train, and to Martin Brodetsky for organising its purchase!

The wreath laying did not go ahead as planned. For some reason the police would let only a few Barnet fans through the Downing Street gates to lay a wreath and a coffin. The rest of us had to be content with standing outside the gates for photocalls. I was impressed by the amount of media presence (though not entirely prepared for a brief interview from Newsroom South East, which was sprung upon me. The other Oxford fans melted into the background at this point!)

Thanks to the police officer behind the gates of Downing Street who objected loudly to our wreath being laid there at the end. We still laid it there. ("It's an offence!") It has to be said that the "normal" police at the event were brilliant.

So all in all, a great day for football fans to show solidarity in each others' causes. If all goes wrong at Minchery with the multiplex application, I feel certain we will similarly be able to call on fellow fans for support. I just hope that Barnet get their new ground...

The KBA will be continuing their campaign around the country. They will be in Oxford for the Oxford City v Wycombe friendly on Wednesday 21 July at 7.30pm. So if you couldn't make it to London, and you want to pledge your support, you know where to be. 

REMINDER - BARNET RALLY TODAY

Don't forget that all Oxford fans are welcome to attend the Barnet Survival rally this afternoon. Barnet are holding a protest on behalf of all disadvantaged clubs, which will involve a representative of each of the 23 (and counting) clubs involved laying a wreath at the steps of 10 Downing Street.

A group of Oxford fans (easily recognisable through replica shirts, hopefully!) is meeting at the Wetherspoon's pub (The Lord Moon on the Mall) in Whitehall from about 1.30pm. The rally/demo starts at 3pm at the Downing Street end of Whitehall and wreaths will be laid at 3.30pm. The whole affair should be over by 4.30pm.

I have been very impressed by the level of press coverage gained for the above demo. Barnet have certainly managed to get the media on board. A feature on Adrian Chiles' show on Radio 5 Live saw organiser, Mike Edwards, and a Luton supporter explaining the situations behind their clubs' crises. The Independent has given coverage, with a lengthy and sympathetic article by David Conn in yesterday's edition. Organisations as diverse as LBC and The Big Issue will be covering this afternoon's events. 

SQUAD ANNOUNCED

Oxford have released their squad numbers for next season. Interesting conclusions that can be drawn are that Arendse looks set to be the No. 1 keeper, Powell remains at left back and Jon Shepheard - reserve team left back - has been promoted to the first team squad. Nicky Banger is not included. What future now for the man with the tan?

The full numbers are as follows :

Kevin Francis is presumably given a late number because of the injury that keeps him out for the first half of the season, whilst Phil Whelan is obviously not expected to play a large part...

The meeting of Oxford United's creditors (including one K. Cox) to discuss the CVA (Corporate Voluntary Agreement) was supposed to take place today. However a mess was made of the period of notice, which is required to be 14 clear days notice. Thus the notice period had to be recalculated. The meeting will now take place on Tuesday 27 July.

Malcolm Shotton has said he probably only has funding for one more player now, which would take our squad size up to 20. This figure includes both Whelan and Banger, both of whose futures with Oxford are unclear. Shotton will size up Icelandic international triallist, Stefan Thordarsson in training today.

According to the Official Oxford site, Andre Arendse arrived on a free transfer. However, I have just been sent a mail from a London-based Oxford fan who confirms that Fulham's press release said that Oxford parted with £30,000 for Arendse. Apparently both Capital Radio and GLR broadcast this fee. So who's lying?

The Icelandic international on trial at Oxford is FC Brann striker, Stefan Thordarsson. He is available on a free transfer. He used to play at Swedish club, Östers IF, with Pål (yes, that's how they spell it) Lundin. (See here for a scary pic of Lundin with a beard from the Östers site.) Oxford have reportedly applied for international clearance for Thordarsson, and seem quite likely to sign him, as he has impressed Shotton in training.

Wolves striker Dominic Foley has now signed for Watford, and Shotton has confirmed that it was Foley whom Oxford were chasing as well.

Steve Merritt has now sent me the original Doncaster Rovers tale printed in Coventry City fanzine, Twist and Shout. Emotive reading for all supporters, especially those whose clubs know about troubled times.

OXFORD SIGN ARENDSE

The Us have signed Fulham reserve keeper, Andre Arendse, a South African international. According to the Official Fulham web site the deal was worth £30,000. Does this mean we actually paid a fee for a player? Wow.

EARLIER NEWS

According to the Oxford Mail, Garry Parker (Oxford born and bred) expressed an interest in playing for Oxford next seaosn, after being released by Leicester. However Shotton turned Parker down, saying that at 35 he would not add to the long-term future of the club. Shotts is apparently concentrating mainly on 24-28 year old players.

Is the player for whose services we are vying with Watford, Dominic Foley? It has now been confirmed that the Wolves striker has not actually put pen to Watford's paper yet. If we're meant to be competing with the Hornets for a striker, Foley may be the one.

Steve Merritt has sent me an article from a Coventry fanzine about Doncaster Rovers. Written by a Doncaster fan (Bob Gilbert, main bloke behind the Save Doncaster Rovers campaign) it describes how well Donny have come back from their worst times. Read it here.

Bad news. Nicky Banger is reportedly back in training at Oxford. Whilst this suggests, quite unsurprisingly, that noone else wanted him, it probably means that we shall have to endure his sparkling wing-play for yet another season.

BARNET MARCH NEWS

Oxford will be making an appearance at the Keep Barnet Alive demo on Saturday. The demo (or "static march") starts at 3pm at the Whitehall entrance to Downing Street. Wreaths will be laid at the door of number 10 by the representatives of the various clubs (17 at last count) at 3.30pm. It is likely to last until 4.30pm. One of the FOUL Committee, Swiss Bloke, will be bringing an Oxford wreath, the buying of which was kindly organised by Martin Brodetsky.

If you want to meet up beforehand, a group of Oxford fans will be meeting in the Weatherspoons pub in Whitehall (next to the Whitehall Theatre, I am reliably informed). We should be there from about 1.30-ish, replica shirts to the fore!

CVA MEETING THIS WEEK

The creditors of Oxford United will meet on Thursday morning in London to consider - and very likely agree to - the CVA (Corporate Voluntary Agreement), under the terms of which each creditor will receive 10% of what he/she is owed by the club. Once agreement is (hopefully) reached, there are six months for various conditions to be fulfilled before the payments are made to the creditors. These conditions include the Football League agreeing to the CVA, an agreement being reached between Taylor Woodrow and the Stadium company, and the Stadium Company taking on the liabilities of the City Council and Thames Water. If these conditions are not satisfied, the CVA is withdrawn.

More information about what a CVA actually means can be found here.

PLAYER NEWS

Walsall boss, Ray Graydon, has said that he is unlikely to sign Nicky Banger, and that Banger is being allowed to train with Walsall for the player's own benefit, suggesting that Banger has nowhere else to train! I take it he is thus not returning to Oxford.

Southampton are now being linked with Paul Powell. Malcolm Shotton has said he will accept no less than £1.5 million for Powell, subject of a £1 million bid from Bradford City last week. Bradford have now signed an alternative left back, Andy Myers from Chelsea.

Shotton has admitted to showing an interest in out-of-contract Millwall right back, Gerard Lavin.

RAGE ONLINE

I told Martin Brodetsky I'd give Rage Online (yes, that's an online sister for Rage On) a plug. So now I have done.

Malcolm Shotton is set to talk to two players early next week, one of whom is a striker. Apparently Watford are also interested in this striker, although their signing of Dominic Foley from Wolves has left them with a surfeit of forwards. Oxford are also taking an Icelandic international on trial. Keeper Danny Coyne, with whom Oxford had been linked this summer, has joined Grimsby on a free transfer from Tranmere. 

I'm still unsure what to make of the fact that Peter Fear has described Oxford as "feeling just like Wimbledon in the old days". Does this mean our players cut up new players' suits? Or that Shotts has the tact of Bobby Gould?

Telford United have signed released Oxford YTS striker, Ben Henshaw, on a free transfer. Telford manager, Alan Lewer, said, "He’s young lad with potential and has an eye for a goal. He’s only 19 and we think he will fill out and strengthen up given time. He’s not lightning quick but he gets behind defenders very well and I think he scored five goals in three reserve games for us at the end of last season.” Apparently Henshaw had his head shaved as a "goodbye present" from his Oxford teammates when he left in April. Now I know what Peter Fear means!

Nicky Banger is having a trial with Walsall. Manager Ray Graydon said, "He has the best tan in the league." Ok, he didn't.

COUNCIL MEETING NEWS

The meeting started with the chair dismissing the objections from ABC Cinemas. The main reason given for this was that ABC should have stated their case previously at the various public meetings. The Council has decided that it is now too late to accept further public objections to the application.

This was followed at midday by two votes on the multiplex issues:

• An 11-0 vote (with 1 abstention) that the Oxpens site should NOT be considered as a potential site for a multiplex cinema.
• An 11-0 vote (again with 1 abstention) that the restriction on a multiplex development at Minchery Farm be removed from the planning permission, subject to (i) the GOSE's Article 14 holding order being lifted, (ii) further discussions between the City, County and Oxford United and (iii) ratification by the full City Council at the meeting on July 19.

ANOTHER PLAYER SIGNS

Oxford today signed 25 year old Wimbledon midfielder, Peter Fear, on a free transfer. After being a regular in the Dons side a couple of years ago, Fear began to drift out of their plans, and made only three appearances last season. He should be a good player at second division level though.

It is also rumoured that the club is in talks with Millwall right back, Gerard Lavin.

The City Council meet tomorrow to (hopefully) officially ratify the amendment to the planning application that allows a multiplex to be built on land near Minchery Farm. This ratification can only take effect once the holding order has been lifted by the GOSE.

A twist has been added in that ABC Cinemas have produced a planning consultant to speak at tomorrow's meeting opposing the development. It is unlikely to carry much weight (being a competition rather than planning issue really), but it could delay the ratification.

The following recommendation came out of yesterday's public County Council meeting:

The County Council as structure plan authority in relation to planning application 98/834 notes that following the City Council's notifying the Government Office for the South East of the proposed development, the Secretary of State has issued an article 14 direction preventing the City Council from approving the application while the direction remains in force. It also goes on to re-iterate its support for the relocation of Oxford United whilst acknowledging the need not to do this at the expense of unacceptable environmental impacts or the conflicts with Government guidance and the development plan outlined in the report whilst noted that Planning Policy Guidance 17 (PPG17) allows for fringe recreation and that the local planning authority are asked to give sympathetic consideration to all-seater stadiums. It also goes on to invite representative of Oxford United and the City Council to discuss urgently how the stadium could be completed in a way which is consistent with Government guidance and with the development plan.

COUNTY MEETING POSITIVE

Oxford United gained a positive result from today's meeting of the County Council. The vote was 2-0 (out of three) in favour of NOT requesting that the multiplex application be called in. This means both the City and County Council now seem to be onside. Apparently the City, County and club will meet in talks to discuss some issues surrounding the application.

Of course, there is still the matter of the holding order on the application, which can only be overturned by GOSE (Government Office of the South East). However if those who requested the order - South Oxfordshire District Council - could be convinced to ask for its overturning, it could become a formality.

EARLIER NEWS

Oxfordshire County Council hold a public meeting at 2pm today to discuss the multiplex application. This is to be held in the County Hall in New Road. Once again FOUL are asking those supporters who can attend to go along and support the cause. I have downloaded the agenda from the County Council website. I've also downloaded their report on the issue.

Dr Evan Harris (MP for Oxford West & Abingdon) has denied any interest in seeing the planning application called in, and says he has been expressing his support for the application. He will be contacting the Oxford Mail to publically pledge his support to the application. He does however believe that the application will be called in, based on the fact that Abingdon's previous application for a multiplex met with that fate.

MORE ON THE MARCH

Steve Merritt has emailed me with more details (supplied by X-Bumble of Barnet) of the Downing Street March :

The demonstration is for Saturday July 17th 1999. We are all to meet outside Downing St. at 3pm prompt. At around 3.30pm the leaders from each club will be allowed to walk up Downing St. and lay a wreath in their respective club colours at the door of no.10. The demo will finish at 4.30 where I need the club leaders to ensure that their supporters vacate the area as quickly and peacefully as possible. (This is police instructions by the way, not mine!)

I have organised a major media presence. We have Radio 5 doing a live broadcast as well as tv crews and major tabloids coming down. I got us a piece about it in yesterdays Independent on Sunday back page of the sport section. We were also on London Tonight so the media are very interested. They are interested in not only us but the way in which clubs are being shafted by the sport loving Labour government.

We have, at the moment 17 other clubs coming and so we can all be a much stonger voice together than individually fighting our
own battles. Also see our survival web site. This has updates, news and our guestbook which will be sent to Blair. It is vital as many people as possible sign it.

MULTIPLEX ON HOLD

The Government Office of the South East (GOSE) yesterday issued a month's holding order on the Minchery Farm multiplex application. This means that the application cannot be granted (or rejected) in the next 30 days, allowing John Prescott (Environment Secretary) time to decide whether the application should be called in. FOUL have information that suggests this holding order is a result of actions by South Oxfordshire District Council (yet another council gets involved!) and Evan Harris, the Lib Dem MP for Oxford West & Abingdon.

The implications are that Oxford City Council will be unable to officially approve the multiplex at their meeting on Wednesday, and also that the County Council decision could be delayed from Monday's meeting until their full planning committee meeting the following Monday (12th July).

DOWNING STREET MARCH

Barnet FC are organising a march on Downing Street to protest the plight of Barnet and other lower league clubs. The protest will start outside Downing Street at 3pm on Saturday 17 July. The Barnet Survival site carries all the details. The site namechecks Steve Merritt as the Oxford United contact for the protest. Barnet are under threat of expulsion from the League because their Underhill ground fails to meet League regulations (that old chestnut), and they have been thwarted in their every effort to find a site for a new ground.

FOUL PRESS RELEASE - OXFORD - 2 JULY 1999

Supporters Cry Foul Over County Council's Cinema Plans

Oxford United's independent supporters' group FOUL (Fighting for Oxford United's Life) have learned that Oxfordshire County Council are planning to object to the football club's application to build a multiplex cinema next to the half built 15,000 seat stadium at Minchery Farm.  A report prepared by the Environmental Services Director, David Young, has recommended that Councillors ask John Prescott to make the decision after a public enquiry.

If the County Council officers get their way FOUL believes the football club will not survive the delay.  This is because of United's precarious financial state and the fact that the Manor ground can not be used after the end of the forthcoming season. The multiplex cinema is seen as the last hope to complete the stadium and rescue the club from bankruptcy.

Mark Mallinson, FOUL's Marketing Officer, said "The County Council officers seem to be hell bent on killing off Oxford United.  They have completely ignored the fact that Government advice to planners is to look favourably on developments like this to help build all seater stadiums and that they should include additional facilities for the benefit of the wider Community".

FOUL will be calling on its membership of more than 1200 Oxford supporters to lobby their County Councillors urgently in the hope they will see sense before the meeting that will decide United's fate.  The meeting is open to the public and is expected to take place at 2:00pm on Monday 5th July at County Hall.

FOUL also believes that David Young's idea of developing a Multiplex Cinema at Oxpens that could be used to fund the new stadium is a completely unworkable suggestion. Quite apart from the fact that John Prescott has already refused permission for this after a lengthy public enquiry, nobody would expect Oxford City Council to hand over this valuable land to the football club.

Steve Hanks, FOUL Chair said "If this hadn't come from an official County Council press release you'd think it was a joke.  Either the County Council Officers behind it are extremely naive or they think they can fool Oxford United supporters into thinking they really care about the club's survival".

FOUL strongly urges the County Council to reconsider their position for the benefit of all Oxfordshire's residents.  Press Officer Martin Brodetsky reiterated the FOUL position: "No multiplex at Minchery Farm means no Firoz Kassam.  No Firoz Kassam means no Oxford United.  We believe that the planning arguments have already been addressed in the section 106 agreements. To delay further would be both politically and morally indefensible."

CLUB CONCERN OVER COUNCIL PRESS RELEASE

The club issued the following press release today in reply to the County Council press release of yesterday:

OXFORD UNITED PRESS RELEASE

Oxford United express surprise and concern in response to the Press Release by Oxfordshire County Council's Environmental Services Director, David Young, yesterday regarding the multiplex proposal at Minchery Farm.
"We see this as an ill-considered and frivolous suggestion to hide the objection to the cinema and to seriously prejudice the future of the Football Club. It is difficult to comprehend how the development at Oxpens can seriously enable the stadium at Minchery Farm to be completed", said Firoz Kassam.

The Press Release and the committee report of the County Council due to be considered on Monday afternoon by emergency sub-committee are seen by the Club to be seriously flawed in a number of ways. In particular the chances of call-in by John Prescott would be less likely if the County were not to object. In fact they are recommending that the proposal is called-in.

David Young has, in considering the proposal contrary to Government policy not taken into account the following facts:

1 That the site has a planning permission for commercial leisure. This permission was granted following consideration by the Government Office.
2 The site has an allocation in the local plan for commercial leisure development. It has been indicated to the City Council that the cinema would not be in addition to the floor space considered for this site.
3 The objection dismisses the relevance of PPG17 that allows for the consideration of enabling development for football clubs having to move as a result of the Taylor Report.
4 That Oxford City Council have forwarded their consideration that this site is not contrary to Local Plan policy given the outline permission and allocation. They have expressed their concern over the content and tone of the County's report.
5 That Mr. Young has taken no consideration of the decisions of Mr. Prescott in the recent past for other football clubs with regard to out of centre enabling development.
6 That a Traffic Impact Analysis and Environmental Impact Analysis was part of the outline application which was considered and approved by the County Council and the City Council have considered formally that further analysis is not required having considered the latest directives.
7 The Press Release refers to the Oxpens site as a City Centre site. But this is contrary to the opinion of John Prescott who, in refusing permission for a multiplex on this site considered this to be an out of centre site. The City have commissioned independent advice on the future uses for the Oxpens site, which may or may not include a cinema. Any development at Minchery Farm will be complementary to this.
8 The City Council own only half the Oxpens site, the other half being owned by Railtrack.
9 Planning authorities are advised to be positive or proactive in dealing with difficult matters. The approach of the County Council is neither.
10 The County Council should have a more holistic regard for the future of the Football Club in that they are the Safety Authority granting licence to Oxford United. They are well aware of the difficulties of operating at the Manor Ground.

Oxford United Football Club consider that Oxford City Council have a better understanding of the issues involved. They hope that members of both the County and City Councils will co-operate in the consideration of these proposals to allow them to proceed at Committee due to be held on Monday and Wednesday and for the stadium to be recommenced and the future of Oxford United to be finally secured.

CLUB ASSURES FANS ON SEASON TICKETS

The club has issued the following press release to reassure supporters about money paid for season tickets:

Oxford United supporters need to be re-assured on season ticket receipts. The Club has opened a separate trustee account into which all season ticket monies will be banked.

A meeting of creditors has been called on 15th July 1999 where they will consider a proposal put forward to them for a re-organisation of the Club's liabilities under a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA). Creditors were circulated with details of the scheme today.

Firoz Kassam has made £2 million available for the Club. £900,000 will be used within the CVA with the balance used to fund the anticipated losses for next season.

Season ticket funds will be released on a fixture-by-fixture basis until the CVA becomes unconditional.

So, the next step in the planning application for the multiplex is the County Council's public meeting on Monday. The County Council will decide whether the application should be passed on to central government, a step which would lead to a long delay in the decision, and which could well lead to Kassam walking out on the club. The Director of Environmental Services at the County is David Young, and he has recommended that the application should be opposed and that it should be "called in" by John Prescott. Those present at the Monday meeting will be entitled to overturn Young's decision. Three councillors will be present at that meeting, one from each of the three main parties. The Conservative councillor has already indicated support for the application. The question is whether one of the other two councillors can be convinced...

Some members of the FOUL committee met with David Young yesterday afternoon in an attempt to convince him to withdraw his motion to "call in" the mulitplex application. Apparently Young favours a cinema development at Oxpens, but this would hardly suit Oxford United. No news yet on how that meeting went. The FOUL committee also met last night to discuss the situation.

David Young said in a County Council press release, "We all want to see Oxford United prosper but it would be foolhardy to imagine that a multiplex at Minchery Farm - which directly contravenes current government planning guidelines - is going to get through on the nod. There is a very strong chance it will be called in by John Prescott. In Oxford, where there is already land at Oxpens earmarked for such use and owned by the City Council, there seems to be a real chance of getting a city centre multiplex which helps to complete Oxford United's stadium."

BANGER HEADS NORTH

According to TeamTalk, Nicky Banger will train with Manchester City in pre-season, after intimating that he would not be returning to Oxford. If Manchester City decide not to sign Banger, he may well return to former club Oldham, who are looking for a new striker. Bolton and Huddersfield are also said to be interested. Did any of these clubs actually watch Nicky play last season? 

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