The Oxford United chairman, Sumrith 'Tiger' Thanakarnjanasuth's programme notes for the game against Walsall on Saturday 22nd September are below:
Good afternoon and welcome back for today’s game against Walsall. I am really pleased to be here for today’s game, having flown in this morning to see it and also to host this morning’s Fans Forum.
The game itself is a big one for us after a very good performance at Wycombe last weekend but we got just one point instead of three. I know how frustrated everyone was by that, but I thought we played very well, just like we did in the previous away game against Sunderland, or at Newport. Certainly, away from home we have dominated those matches but what we need is a convincing win at home, which can hopefully happen this afternoon.
This morning’s Forum was a chance for me to talk to fans and answer a few questions. I like to think I am always approachable, but the distance involved means I am not able to meet the supporters as often as I would perhaps like. A Forum is a good way to share ideas and hear your concerns and I am pleased that Karl and Niall McWilliams, our MD, have cleared time on a busy match day to join me. I think that says a lot about how much we want to build the relationship between all areas of the club and the supporters.
If people ask me whether this club is heading in the right direction then my answer is a definite yes. On the pitch I think things are settling down now and we are not seeing the true picture. Name me a club in this division who would not want Simon Eastwood, Samir Carruthers and Rob Hall in their team. Even last week we had a serious-looking injury to Cameron Brannagan to contend with. Thankfully it was not as bad as first feared but it was less than 24 hours after Jamie Mackie had to pull out of that game through injury! You expect some bad luck in a season, but I hope we have used up most of ours now.
Off the pitch we made a big improvement with Zaki Nuseibah and Horst Geicke joining the Board. I have known both of them for a while and I know they are very astute businessmen who have total integrity and who will want to be part of a success story here. Fans want new signings all the time, I understand that, but the new board that we are building – and there are more names to be announced soon – is just as important for the sustained success of this club.
We are building for the future but Tuesday night gives us a chance to show all that is good about this club right now. We play the Champions of England, the holders of the Carabao Cup, and the game sold out weeks ago. I ask you all to wear your yellow shirts and scarves and create a sea of yellow to welcome the teams and show them, and the world, that Oxford really is United.
Sumrith 'Tiger' Thanakarnjanasuth
Chairman
You can read the full programme for today's game online at www.matchdayfix.com/oufc.