‘It doesn't get more serious' – Championship club could cease to exist as CEO makes heartfelt plea to authorities
The Championship outfit submitted plans for a 16,000-seater multi-purpose ground with a decision expected in July.
3
3
3
Ahead of the decision from the local authorities, Oxford CEO Tim Williams has issued a stark warning over the future of the club.
The U's currently play their football at the Kassam Stadium, but their lease is set to expire in 2026.
He told Sky Sports: "When our lease at the Kassam Stadium runs out, we won't have a home and a stadium to play in.
"If we don't have a stadium, there is a risk we won't have a football club."
Oxford's potential new development would feature an 18-bedroom hotel, an events centre as well as wellbeing and community spaces.
It would also be the first all-electric stadium in the UK.
Williams has claimed that Oxford are more in need of the ground than the likes of Manchester United and Everton.
The two Premier League giants are due in new homes with the .
The Red Devils are aiming to construct a new 100,000-seater stadium by the 2030/31 season.
Williams added: "It doesn't get more serious than that for a football club.
Championship club could be left without a stadium as EFL deadline looms
"We have seen headlines recently about a new Manchester United stadium, which with all due respect is a want and not a need.
"If Manchester United don't move out, they still have Old Trafford.
"If Everton hadn't moved into Bramley Moor-Dock, they've still got Goodison.
"If we don't move into a new stadium, we are homeless and we don't exist and it's an absolute travesty in my view.
"It's that important."
A decision on the new stadium is in less than five weeks and Williams believes that it would benefit the local community.
He said: "We now have a Football Regulator, and we have a report by Tracey Crouch which talks about football assets.
"We are a poster child for what good football governance and football clubs should be about.
'It's going to be a 16,000-seater stadium, on the outskirts of Oxford, and a real community asset, fully sustainable, in a brilliant location in the country.
'We need support, but we also need to say, the point about the club potentially not existing is a real one. This needs to be moved up every headline.
'We are entering a crucial period in the club's history. The future of the club hinges on the new stadium, and I'd urge every supporter, every stakeholder, and every voice to get behind this project.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
18 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Richie Wellens hails Josh Koroma for ‘great finish, great goal' in Plymouth win
Koroma latched on to a brilliant first-time volleyed through ball from Ollie O'Neill before running on to send a superb angled finish past Argyle goalkeeper Luca Ashby-Hammond and into the far corner. Home protests of offside were waved away by officials. Wellens said: 'It's something we want to do better – when we press high and we win the ball high we can play the ball forward quickly. It was a great pass for the goal and a great finish. 'Josh Koroma composed himself well, kept the defender at arm's length and always knew what he was doing: great finish, great goal. 'It was a professional performance from us. It's a difficult place to come, a long way to come. 'It was a long day yesterday travelling down and today's been a long day so you are not always going to see flowing football and total control. 'But I think we controlled certain areas of the game and we are playing against a relegated club from the Championship and they are expected to be right up there. 'Apart from the first 15 to 20 minutes where they were on top I thought we made quite a few chances and could have scored a couple more goals. 'I am proud of my players second half because they (Plymouth) made a lot of unforced errors and I think that was down to the way we pressed them and our work rate.' Argyle boss Tom Cleverley said: 'You can probably tell my body language I am not as burning angry as I was on Saturday. 'I saw a group of guys who were focused, were organised were trying their best. 'We just fell short, that is where we are at, at the minute. 'The Lincoln and the Barnsley performances were similar in that we offered attacking threat but conceded three really soft goals. 'The Bolton and Leyton Orient performances were similar in that we looked a bit more solid and in control but just in that final part were just a bit off it tonight. 'Putting the two performances together is what we are striving for before we can complete. 'Alex Mitchell has come in and made us look more solid. I was pleased with his debut and there were some positives to take out today. I though (Ayman) Benarous was fantastic making his first league start for us. 'Having watched the goal on the small monitor next to me it looked like a good decision. I will have to watch it back, it was a small screen and obviously in the heat of the battle. It just looked like one that maybe we couldn't complain about.'
South Wales Argus
18 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Richie Wellens hails Josh Koroma for ‘great finish, great goal' in Plymouth win
Koroma latched on to a brilliant first-time volleyed through ball from Ollie O'Neill before running on to send a superb angled finish past Argyle goalkeeper Luca Ashby-Hammond and into the far corner. Home protests of offside were waved away by officials. Wellens said: 'It's something we want to do better – when we press high and we win the ball high we can play the ball forward quickly. It was a great pass for the goal and a great finish. 'Josh Koroma composed himself well, kept the defender at arm's length and always knew what he was doing: great finish, great goal. 'It was a professional performance from us. It's a difficult place to come, a long way to come. 'It was a long day yesterday travelling down and today's been a long day so you are not always going to see flowing football and total control. 'But I think we controlled certain areas of the game and we are playing against a relegated club from the Championship and they are expected to be right up there. 'Apart from the first 15 to 20 minutes where they were on top I thought we made quite a few chances and could have scored a couple more goals. 'I am proud of my players second half because they (Plymouth) made a lot of unforced errors and I think that was down to the way we pressed them and our work rate.' Argyle boss Tom Cleverley said: 'You can probably tell my body language I am not as burning angry as I was on Saturday. 'I saw a group of guys who were focused, were organised were trying their best. 'We just fell short, that is where we are at, at the minute. 'The Lincoln and the Barnsley performances were similar in that we offered attacking threat but conceded three really soft goals. 'The Bolton and Leyton Orient performances were similar in that we looked a bit more solid and in control but just in that final part were just a bit off it tonight. 'Putting the two performances together is what we are striving for before we can complete. 'Alex Mitchell has come in and made us look more solid. I was pleased with his debut and there were some positives to take out today. I though (Ayman) Benarous was fantastic making his first league start for us. 'Having watched the goal on the small monitor next to me it looked like a good decision. I will have to watch it back, it was a small screen and obviously in the heat of the battle. It just looked like one that maybe we couldn't complain about.'
ITV News
18 minutes ago
- ITV News
Government strikes returns deal with Iraq in latest bid to deter small boats
The Government has agreed a new deal with Iraq to return illegal migrants as part of wider moves to limit small boat crossings. The deal, signed by Home Office minister Dan Jarvis, will set up a formal process to return Iraqis who have arrived in the UK with no right to stay in the country. It comes after an £800,000 deal last year with Baghdad to help the country crack down on smuggling networks and organised crime. Earlier this year Sir Keir Starmer and Iraq's prime minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani agreed to strengthen co-operation on migration. Mr Jarvis signed the agreement during a visit to the UK by Iraq's deputy foreign minister Faud Hussein. The Home Office said the accord would allow the 'swift' return of illegal migrants. Home Office statistics said since previous deals, the number of Iraqis arriving in the UK by small boat has fallen to 1,900 in the year to March 2025, down from 2,600 in the previous year. Mr Jarvis said: 'By working together on security, development and migration challenges, we are building stronger relationships that benefit both our countries whilst tackling shared challenges like organised crime and irregular migration.' The returns deal is the latest as part of the Home Office's policies to stop small boats crossing the channel. Similar agreements have already been made with Albania and Vietnam since Labour came into power. Another deal with France recently came into force, where small boat migrants who have arrived over the English Channel from the French coast can be returned to the country. The small boats migrant will then be exchanged for a legitimate asylum seeker in France who can demonstrate a genuine family link to the UK. The number has been capped, but it is hoped it will act as a deterrent to those crossing the Channel. The latest figures from the Home Office showed 116 migrants arrived aboard two small boats on August 15. Mr Jarvis said: 'This visit reinforces the strength of the UK-Iraq partnership and demonstrates our government's commitment to serious diplomacy that delivers real results. 'As someone who served in Iraq, I understand first-hand the importance of building enduring relationships in the region, and the new agreement we have signed is a testament to the trust and co-operation we've built with our Iraqi counterparts.' However, the announcement was criticised by Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp. He said: 'Over 50,000 illegal immigrants have crossed the Channel in Labour's short time in power, the worst illegal immigration crisis in our history. 'Labour has surrendered our borders, and the consequences are being felt in our communities, from rising crime to shocking cases of rape and sexual assault by recent arrivals. 'Now they boast about a measly returns deal with Iraq, but barely any small boat arrivals are Iraqi, and most would qualify for asylum anyway. It's a sham designed to look tough while crossings keep soaring. 'Labour has scrapped Conservative deterrents and created the conditions for chaos, leaving the British people to foot the bill. Only the Conservatives will stop the crossings and restore control of Britain's borders.'
