All eyes are on Saturday’s home game against Southend as the U’s look to make it four wins in a row when Sol Campbell’s side visit the Kassam Stadium on Saturday.
United’s impressive form this season has won plenty of admirers and boss Karl Robinson has been telling iFollow about Blackpool’s approach to talk to him and why he has chosen to stay with the U’s:
“It’s a weird one because I knew nothing about it til 10 o’clock Tuesday and at that time we’d just won a game of football and it wasn’t in my thought process. I spoke to Tiger on Wednesday morning and he said the offer had been rejected and I said ‘alright’; I didn’t even have time to think about it too much, although it is always an honour when a football club approaches to speak to you. Blackpool are a club that seems to be going in the right direction but from our point of view, that phone call has gone now.
“People keep saying there is no smoke without fire but sometimes things are as simple as they seem. I don’t need a new contract, I don’t want more money, let’s squash those rumours. I just want to be successful here. Maybe this is the moment we need to sit down and see how we do that. I think if anything it will bring us even closer together.
“There are no ulterior motives, no malice in any of it and I didn’t want to leave. I think I have said enough about what I want to achieve here, and about this being a moment I will remember because it is the most content I have been and the best I have been as a person. I had a nice letter today from an Ipswich fan about the way our football club seemed so united, and we are doing things right: the fans, the Board, the players and the staff.
“We all know there will be a time I do leave, that happens with all Managers whether I get the sack or walk away. But on that day I want to be able to walk back in here and know I have left on good terms. Oxford have given me a tremendous opportunity and I want to win things.
“It hasn’t affected things at the training ground. The lads know me and have bought in to something we are trying to do here, things being done the right way. Perhaps it makes us more hungry because the only way we can all stay together is if we are successful. I want to go into the Championship with my mates here, so now we take stock and we move on together.
“First of all we want to win on Saturday. People look at the table and think we are going to win just by turning up. No we are not. Southend are well coached, they have their personal pride and they are professionals so we know it is going to be hard again on Saturday. But we will face that challenge together and hopefully end the week on a high.”
See the whole interview plus a great catch up with George Thorne on his return in iFollow where Josh Ruffels joins the chaos in the Preview Show and we take a look at the education scheme for the club’s scholars.
Most importantly, be at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday as Oxford United welcome Southend United. Visit oufctickets.co.uk or call 01865 337533. The Chase is on, be part of the team...