Oxford part company with Rowett after Championship struggles

OXFORD United, one of Bristol City's Championship rivals, have parted ways with head coach Gary Rowett ahead of Christmas, with the U’s chairman, Grant Ferguson, citing a “disappointing run of results” as the reason for the change.

- Dan CARTER

Gary Rowett at Oxford United's game against Preston this month

Oxford confirmed in a statement yesterday morning, a matter of days after their 1-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic, that Rowett and his assistant Mark Sale had departed the club. After 22 games, the U's find themselves 22nd in the Championship, two points adrift of Portsmouth and safety, having won just four league matches.

Rowett was named head coach at the Kassam Stadium last December, succeeding Des Buckingham in the dugout - who in turn had replaced Liam Manning when he joined City. The 51-year-old was able to steer the U’s to safety as Oxford finished four points and five places clear of the drop zone in their first season back in the second tier.