Oxford United set to confirm appointment of new manager after parting with Des Buckingham

Oxford United are set to confirm appointment of new manager after parting company with head coach Des Buckingham.

After an initial impressive start to the club’s first season back in the second tier for 25 years, Saturday saw the U’s extended a tricky run of form of just one win in 15 games after a 3-1 defeat at home against Sheffield Wednesday.

The loss left Oxford sitting 20th in Championship, 18 points from 20 games, but are currently one point above the drop zone.

Oxford United can confirm that Des Buckingham has left his role as Men’s First Team Head Coach.

The Club would like to place on record its thanks to Des for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future.

— Oxford United (@OUFCOfficial) December 15, 2024

CLUB STATEMENT:

Oxford United can confirm that Des Buckingham has left his role as Men’s First Team Head Coach.

Des was appointed in November 2023 and led the Club to promotion to the EFL Sky Bet Championship at the end of the 2023/24 season.

The Club would like to place on record its thanks to Des for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future.

The appointment of a new head coach will be confirmed in due course.

FAVOURITES TO BECOME NEW OXFORD MANAGER

BetVictor
John Terry – 10/11
Gary Rowett – 4/5
Steven Schumacher – 11/1
Mark Robins – 16/1
Paddy McCarthy – 20/1
Steve Cooper – 25/1

Des Buckingham said, per Oxford Mail: “We asked for a response from Wednesday in terms of being a lot more creative and attack-minded in the final third, and we certainly got that in the first half.

“As corny as the saying is, goals change games and we had some big moments to extend the lead.

“I thought we were deserved of being 1-0 up and we had two or three big moments afterwards to make it two.

“I’m happy with the reaction, certainly in the first half, and then I’m just disappointed with how the second half has played out.”

Buckingham added: “You put things in context when you can. We are still one of the strongest sides from defending corners in the league.

“You don’t want to concede any, but if you’re using that as a measuring yard, it’s always a good starting point.

“And the second one, we don’t quite get those falling for us at the moment, but that’s the way it is here at the minute.

“We’re in a bit of a run with how things are going, and it takes the stuffing out of you a little bit to go 2-1 down.

“We’ve all played the game or been in the game long enough to know what we’re trying to do, and what’s good and what isn’t, whether it’s performance or set-up.

“As long as we stick to that, we’ve shown the success of that together as a playing group, a staff group, a club, and as a fan group.

“We’ve shown what that brings and that’s always been something we’ve been able to fall back on, so it’s making sure in these moments, we recognise they are challenging moments, but we will find ways to continue challenging ourselves at this level, and also we put things in place to get us results.”

Twitter users gave their reaction with Oxford United set to confirm appointment of new manager after parting with Des Buckingham…

@nickmanor: I am stunned. I am speechless. I am extremely disappointed. The Board has shown absolutely no loyalty, yet they expect unconditional loyalty from the supporters.

@jm_bell95: Not often I’m left speechless… Also, I shouldn’t be surprised by anything in football these days 👀

@AubsEFC1985: Baffled by this. Yes it’s not been the best on the pitch recently, but surely he deserved a chance to get it right

@MTtitans: Completely unexpected but got to see who the next guy in is and support them. Owners need to give them the backing if they want to survive this year

@Track_DCFC: Looking in, this seems like an awful decision? Guided Oxford United to their first Champ campaign in 25 years, currently a respectable 20th after 20 games… Surely you’d wait until after Jan/Feb to make a decision like this? Especially when the only aim is survival? #oufc

@Nickpenfold63:
WTF
Wish Des all the best for the future.
Thank you for all you have done for the club 💛💙

@KieranMilward: That’s very disappointing, yes, results have been poor over the last few months but he deserved another window to sort it out.

@RobPUSB: What a god awful decision. Oxford is my (now) local club since I left CV and they appeared to be a club on the up. Not in the relegation zone, which is the target after promotion… so I don’t know what the boards expecting? Think this will backfire, sadly. #oufc

@oufcfan85: I’m shocked by this . But the reality is that we haven’t been especially good for the majority of his time in charge. We timed it well to get into the playoffs and we were sensational at Wembley. But I can’t say it is necessarily a bad decision

@JoeKneale582: Got a team promoted to a level they haven’t been at in over 20 years and he’s not even got until Christmas, absolute joke

@hardlydeluded: Board just ignoring the fact 90% of the East stand were signing Buckinghams yellow army before KO yesterday

@DanielClarke9: Can’t sack someone with a league 1 squad competing in the championship and not give him January in my mind yea we on a horrid run not even been in the relegation spots! but wow didn’t see that coming. #oufc

@Bloomers87: To put it mildly, that’s a huge huge gamble. #oufc. Clearly he’s not trusted to oversee the January window.

@owenlucibello: I genuinely do not believe my eyes, we might have been struggling recently but new management was not anything I’d even thought about. Can’t wait for Leeds away on Saturday 🫣 #OUFC

@m0000c1: We’ve been awful, but I still think this is ridiculous. I would’ve given him some money to spend in January and revisit in 2/3 months. #oufc

@connorfowles15: weird decision from club… but i wouldn’t mind seeing mark robins in the dugout #oufc

@oxfjack: This is a fucking shambles #oufc

@YellowMartin82: Guess there are no quiet days as an Oxford fan. Harsh call in my eyes but must have someone else lined up. Thanks for Wembley Des #oufc

@MattOufc: Oxford born, moves continent to manage us, get the team promoted to the highest they’ve been in 25 years… sacked

@Theo_Woollard: Most annoying thing is that you know he goes somewhere else and has huge success! With Des gone, I would like to see the slate wiped and allow the new person the opportunity to bring their own backroom team in. #oufc

@dan_oufc: #OUFC have completely done Des dirty here, I just hope there’s not more to it and it wasn’t more of his decision than the clubs. Thank you Des for everything you did in such a short space of time. You will always be held in high regard for what you did for our football club

@JamSebRob: Absolutely fuming at the news coming out of #OUFC and I’m praying there’s more to it than a straight up sacking. Our squad should be bottom 3. We’re competing, and Des 100% deserved the full season and a January window to try and turn it around. Shocked. Thank you Des.

@Joe_Citrone: What a pathetic club statement as well. 84 words. That’s all Des is worth apparently after guiding us to the Championship for the first time in 25 years. I am not sure I have ever been so angry at the club before. #oufc

@rockall10: Des is a quality coach. I cannot understand the decision. Our squad in league one had no right to get promoted and he’s had one window. We are so short of the quality required for the championship and we have been in the relegation zone once. Fans fully behind him yesterday #oufc