Oxford United boss Aaron Ramsey gives update on the squad, the transfer embargo and the sad news regarding Frankie Kent.
It’s been a rather eventful three weeks for the new U’s head coach, and while he’s expressed delight in what he’s seen so fans in his players, there has been some not so welcome news.
Preparations for the 2026/27 season haven’t gone as they’d hoped, player departures, the club being placed under a temporary transfer embargo, meaning they’re unable to buy bring in any new players this summer, and have now seen their latest addition to the squad, Frankie Kent, pick up an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
A statement was issued by the chairman Dusan Bogdanovic earlier this week, after fans made their concerns known.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has also given his take on the situation. See more on that HERE.
Now we have heard from head coach Aaron Ramsey…
Interviewer: “Aaron, thanks for taking the time to chat. There’s not long before training begins. It’s the last full training day today. Just tell us what’s been your what’s been your overview of the camp. How pleased have you been with the work that’s taken on?”
Aaron: “Yeah, I’ve been really pleased with the the work so far, yeah, that’s the main emphasis is getting the work into the boys legs with adding some detail around that. But yeah, they’ve worked really hard. So, I’ve been really pleased with the way things got have gone this week so far. Yeah, we got a couple more days to go before we finish the week here, but, yeah, can’t fault the players effort so far.”
Interviewer: “When you’re planning out when you come into the job and you’re planning out what preseason looks like, I imagine that each week is working more intensely on getting ready for the start of the season. Where did this week fit in and what were you trying to get across in this week in Spain?”
Aaron: “Yeah, well, this week it’s very important for us to get that work into the boys, you know, for the first few weeks of preseason. It’s about increasing that load and the demands on the you know from a physical perspective but then you know coming into the season then you may taper down a little bit then. So this is definitely right in the thick of things where the boys have to work.”
Interviewer: “It was also an opportunity this week to go into some of the more like specific things for the players working with the strikers working with the midfielders working with the defenders as well. What are you trying to get across in in those instances? I hear a lot about details and I hear a lot about habits. So tell us just a bit about the importance of that.”
Aaron: “I think overall we’re going to play with structure it’s really important for us to play with structure to give us control in games. And then you know these little bits of detail around that then and the habits and the behaviours. This is what makes a difference then in you know giving you that structure but then being able to perform in them roles and things as well with and without the ball. I mean it works hand in hand. So, uh, really important for us to to nail that bits of them bits of detail, in order for us to to to go and, you know, express ourselves on the pitch.”
Interviewer: “You’ve been in so many of these preseason camps as a player. Just tell us about the importance of them. You’re talking there about the work going on in in the grass behind us, but also I’m thinking about just having everyone together for a week and and what that can do for a group.”
Aaron: “Oh, it’s amazing. I think uh this is where you really build connections and that’s going to be really important for us to do that. You know, as a myself and my staff have have just recently come in, so for us to be around the staff and the players here is is important and yeah, connections between us players, the fans, all of this is going to be really important this season. So, this is a great opportunity this week to really work on that on the pitch and off the pitch.”
Interviewer: “We’ll return back to the camp in a moment, but want to touch on a couple of players who aren’t here. One being Frankie Kent who’s unfortunately had quite a serious injury and one being Stan Mills who’s been away ill this week. Can you just explain for for both of those players their absence?”
Aaron: “Yeah, we’re really gutted about Frankie situation. Obviously what he’s had to go through so far and and yeah, you know, really positive character, really excited to work with him, but you know, sometimes these things happen in football, but we’re right behind him. We’ll stand by him through this difficult time and you know, I’m sure he’ll be back before we know it. And Stan, yeah, had an illness earlier on in the week. So, yeah, the doc’s been monitoring that back at home. And yeah, we feel like it’s best now that he gains a little bit of fitness back there, but I’m excited for him to rejoin the group now on Monday.”
Interviewer: “Another thing we should mention if it’s okay with you is is the news around the embargo and what conversations have you had with people inside the club and and how did you bring it forward when discussing it with the the group of lads to make sure that we’re all pushing forward in the the right direction?”
Aaron: “Yeah, first of all, you know, I can empathise with the fans, you know the frustration and things in that situation and maybe not having that clarity but from my perspective yeah nothing changes from my side you know I came here to work with this group of players, really excited to work with this group of players and the way that I work and my staff work I feel like there’s a lot of room for improvement as well so yeah we’re fully committed to this me and my staff and yeah just bringing everybody together to make sure we have a successful season, but also I’m calm and confident and reassured that this situation will be resolved as quickly as possible.”
Interviewer: “You can really feel the the positive atmosphere out here in the pitch, even just, you know, in the evenings watching the World Cup, boys playing cards. For you, and I’ve heard you out there in the training pitch as well. From what you see, you seem like you’re really convinced in the group of lads you’ve got here that we can go on and have a really strong season.”
Aaron: “Yeah, absolutely. I mean, like I said, I was really excited to work with this group of players before coming here and, yeah, the way that they’ve performed in the last few weeks and the information that they’ve taken on, it’s been really encouraging for us. We’ve had some really, positive reactions from them, you know some they played the game already and you know some of the stuff that we tried to uh put into that game come out on a number of occasions. Yeah. So it’s just getting into good habits and good behaviours now cuz that’s what’s going to underpin you know our principles and the way that we play this season. So really excited an honest group as well. So that always helps and yeah we’ve just been really impressed so far with everything.”
Interviewer: “Two people that have come in alongside you that have seemed to really have a positive influence so far are Chris Gunter and Tom Hutton. Can you just talk a little bit more about the two of them, why you wanted to bring them in and and what you’ve seen so far?”
Aaron: “Yeah, I mean obviously yeah, I’ve played with Gunts as a player throughout my career for many many years, but I always knew he was destined to to go on and and become a great coach as well. And the way that he is, he understands you from the players perspective, he’s really detailed and has a great energy about him as well in his coaching style and and the way they see the game as well, the way he sees the game is exactly the way that I see the game. So, also with Huts, I’ve been fortunate enough, to have been starting my coaching journey, you know, with the Cardiff, 18s and seeing the way that he works and I was blown away by his detail and the way that he sees the game and, the way that he can transform that into onto the grass and, yeah, I think they’re great additions for us. And, so far, yeah, I think the boys have really bought into them.”
Interviewer: “We spoke to Gunts this week and he said because you two have had such a long relationship that he might be able to have a debate with you a little bit more about certain things on the pitch. Have you had any of those instances yet?”
Aaron: “Yeah, I mean look, you need that. You need to be challenged and certainly I get that from my staff. So yeah, ultimately it’s going to be my decision, but you know, you need to be challenged. You don’t want to just somebody there just just being there for the sake of it. So, yeah, we’ve definitely had some heated debates over the years, but, yeah, it’s healthy.”
Interviewer: “Good. And in terms of the staff that were here when you came in, I’m thinking the likes of Price and Hackett and there’s many others that are here as well. What have you made of the influence that that they’ve got out there in the training pitch and and in the group as well?”
Aaron: “Yeah. Well, me and my staff and obviously the way that I see the game, we’re all aligned on there and but, you know, Price I’ve known for a number of years, obviously played alongside him, Hackett as well, really excited to come and work with him, and seeing how he he sees the game, which is aligned with the way that we see the game, but also, I think what’s really important with them two guys, especially Hacks as well, is that they’ve been at the club for a very long time and they have a really deep understanding of the club. So for me, you know, coming in only for a few weeks, that’s really important for me to sort of lean on them from that aspect and to really get that connection with the club. So yeah, been really important, but not just them too, the whole staff in general. There’s really good staff here who I’ve been really impressed by and there’s a real togetherness already forming.”
Interviewer: “Only a couple of days left here. I know you’ve got a game on Friday between between the group and then when we get back it almost starts to feel real, doesn’t it? Pre-season games will begin. You’ll start getting into a flow of Tuesday, Saturday. Looking at those games you’ve got coming up, what are you hoping to to get out of those? Starting with Aldershot on Tuesday.”
Aaron: “Yeah. Listen, this has given us a great opportunity for the first few weeks to really you know from a physical perspective but also to try and get into the team you know our principles, our habits and try and you know drip feed them over in little doses over the first few weeks. But now then in these games are coming in this is a real opportunity for us now against good opposition to really show and that we’re making progress. It is a process, but you know, we’re we’re fully aware that we need to be delivering as well in in in that process. So yeah, I’m really looking forward to having these competitive games, like you said, it makes it feel a lot more real. And yeah, I just can’t wait to get started from that from that side of things.”
Interviewer: “Yeah. And then the season, the league games, the cup games will be round in in a few weeks time as well. I’m not going to ask you about targets for the season, but how high do you think the ceiling can be from from what you’ve seen so far in your first couple of weeks?”
Aaron: “Well, like I said, really really excited to work with this group of players before I came here, and that doesn’t change, you know, the way that I see the game and the way that I want to play the game. I feel like that’s the the best way of winning football matches. And that’s with and without the ball how we look. So, yeah, we’re not just going to go out there and try and attack like we need to be really good without the ball as well and how that looks like and how we look like behind the ball. So, but we feel like that’s the best way to win football matches and the boys have really bought into that the first few weeks and, the principles and the behaviours that they’ve that we’ve shown them, they’ve already bought into it and there’s so many good clips so far of the boys doing what we’ve asked of them. So, you know, this is just the beginning and, really excited now what we can do over the next 3 or 4 weeks before the season starts.”
Following a previous summer of total instability and terrible preparation…
– We sack the manager we appointed in January just six weeks after the final day of the season.
– We appoint a manager who has never managed before.
– We are hit with a registration embargo.
– We still don’t really know how or why.
– We won’t be able to sign any players until January.
– We are told the focus will be on retaining our players.
– We sell two players the next day.
– We hear our Player of the Year hasn’t travelled with the squad to our pre-season camp in Spain.
– We understand he’s almost certainly leaving.
– We can’t replace him, or anyone else we sell, for that matter.
– We can’t register our only new signing… who then suffers an ACL injury.
Other than that, vast improvements from 12 months ago…
Few interesting points from what I thought was a really positive and honest Aaron Ramsey interview:
– He seems genuinely excited by, and impressed with, the quality in our squad.
– He used the words “control” and “structure” a lot, which suggests we might be looking at having more than 30% possession this season.
– He was clearly gutted to lose Frankie Kent and, although it doesn’t matter now, it sounds like he could have been registered.
– Stanley Mills hasn’t refused to train and isn’t trying to force a move (shock horror). He’s back training with the group from Monday, although he could obviously still move on.
– He played down the embargo, as you’d expect, but did sympathise with supporters and repeatedly used words like “confident”, “calm” and “reassured” when discussing the situation. He also said he believes it’ll be resolved “as quickly as possible”. Make of that what you will.
– It sounds like, although the playing squad can’t currently be strengthened, the coaching staff has been refreshed and revamped with some fresh ideas. No mention of Shorty, though.
I was pleasantly surprised by the questioning too. Considering it was an interview conducted by the club, and given how awkward and uncertain the current situation is for everyone working there day to day, I think this is some really strong and worthwhile communication.
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