On Friday, Gary Rowett walked into the Oxford United Training Ground for the first time as Men’s First Team Head Coach.
With the team already on the road north for the trip to Leeds United on Saturday, Gary walked into a quieter Training Ground than normal, as he took the opportunity to settle into his new environment, meet some new faces, and then go through his scheduled media commitments.
Before speaking to the press, he sat down for the first time as Oxford United Head Coach with OUTV to discuss his excitement for this new period for both him and the Club.
He said: “I’m really pleased to get it done. You want to get into the building and start meeting people and find your way around things.
“The most important thing is to work with the team, and I’m really excited for that. I’ve had a great welcome and I’m excited to start.
“I’ve seen the Club over the years, and over the last few I have seen the development in becoming a Championship side again.
“When I first heard of the interest it was an exciting opportunity. Most importantly it’s about the people you work with and there are some really good people at the Club with clear structures.
“The passion of the fans is another aspect and for me it’s about trying to give them something. We want to maintain the success and then build on it to get them a team they are proud of.”
Results of late have seen Oxford United slip in the Championship table, but it’s a position that Gary Rowett is more than comfortable within.
With more than 300 games of management in the Championship, he is an extremely experienced figure, and he knows exactly how to get the right tune of a group.
He added: “I’ve done it before several times with clubs at this stage of the season.
“For me, I have managed to build other clubs into teams that can challenge for the top six. It’s about showing ambition, because at times like this it can be easy to be fearful, but you need a clear direction of travel and, as I said, be ambitious.
“There is a good team here with talented individuals and I need to help create a synergy to perform.”
In between becoming Head Coach at Oxford and his last job in management with Birmingham City, Gary has taken to the world of media with Sky Sports, regularly analysing Championship games.
Going up and down the country with the broadcasters means he has kept a close eye on the division and, as such, knows what this team can offer.
“I’m well versed on the whole Championship having spent the last year watching games. I watched the first home game of the season against Norwich City, and I’ve seen the team at their best.
“It’s important to get back to that quickly. I can look at the players with fresh eyes and I’m looking forward to meeting the players. I’ve been coaching for a long time, and I like to get out there and see if we can continue to make improvements.
“You must come in and try and make an impact right away. I’m not the type who will say they need 10 games to get my point across because you haven’t got that time.
“It’s about impacting things straight away and being clear with the players on how we create that synergy and create performances. I’ve been in this situation on numerous occasions and this group looks like a really good one and it’s up to me to help get that winning mentality back.”
You can watch the interview in full, where he talks about his connection with the supporters, his style of management, and how he works day to day.
