Oxford United ended another week without a win in League One but Liam Manning’s side did pick up a vital point on the road.
Elsewhere this week, the club appointed a new head of recruitment before their end-of-financial-year losses were announced.
Oxford United Weekly Round-Up: Point Against Posh and End-of-Year Losses
U’s Appoint New Head of Recruitment
Oxford began the week with the appointment of Ed Waldron as the club’s new head of recruitment.
Waldron, who first joined the club in 2017 to work in the performance analysis department, replaces Mark Thomas, who left to join Derby County last month.
He spent one year with the recruitment team at Bordeaux before returning to Oxford to work alongside his predecessor.
Speaking to the club’s official website, he said: “I am honoured to be given the chance. We have built the department over the last few years and the structure and resources are all here to build success, we know that.
“I have spoken a lot with Liam Manning and he has been brilliant. We have a lot of work to do this summer but we will be going back to a model that plans for the next three windows and beyond.
“I speak with Derek Fazackerley every single day and have a very strong relationship with Tim (Williams) and Grant (Ferguson).
“It’s great to have their experience plus we have brought in a new data analyst already and we are in the process of bringing additional scouting expertise.
“That’s exciting and to be asked to take charge of that is a wonderful opportunity. I have loved working for Oxford United and am passionate about what we do and how we bring in the right players to drive the whole club in the right direction.”
Tim Williams added: “Grant and I have worked more closely with Ed since Mark’s departure and whilst we had been looking further afield realised quickly that the right person was sitting alongside us. Ed will be supported by a very strong team around him.
“He is knowledgeable, thorough, has an encyclopedic knowledge of players and is known and respected throughout the game.
“He fully deserves his chance and I would also like to state how proud we should be as a club to bring in young people of a very high calibre who work so hard and then get their opportunity to step up and play a major role in shaping the future of the team and the club.”
Club Suffers End-of-Year Financial Loss
Oxford United have reported a loss of more than £4 million for the 2021/22 financial year, an increase of over £500,000 from the previous campaign.
The club posted a statement, which read: “The accounts, which are available in full from Companies House, show turnover increasing by £1.2 million during the year ended June 30, 2022 to £6.9 million.
“With overall cost of sales increasing due to increases in the playing staff costs as well as the costs of the full return to stadia attendance following Covid, the club generated a loss before taxation for the financial year of £4.2 million compared with a loss of £3.7 million in the previous year.
“That loss was fully funded by the ownership group who remain committed to the club and will continue to support it financially.
“Changes to the structure of the board as communicated at the start of this season will help with this process.
“The club are now putting in place steps to ensure future financial sustainability, which includes the support for the club’s ongoing new stadium development.
“On this basis, in the short to medium term, this may require further shareholder investment.
“Our main player sale in the year was Rob Atkinson to Bristol City, which enabled us to invest in our playing squad and our infrastructure at the training ground.
“There was investment in fixed assets relating mostly to a new roof at the training ground with a new pitch and irrigation system for the pitches, continuing the improvement programme for all of our training facilities and demonstrating the club’s commitment to investing in infrastructure.”
Another Point on the Road
Liam Manning’s second game in charge of Oxford ended in a similar fashion to the first with a point on the road.
However, this time, the U’s managed a first clean sheet in 19 games with a goalless draw at Peterborough United.
The point moves Oxford three points clear of the bottom four ahead of a tricky match against league leaders, Sheffield Wednesday, next time out.
