At the start of the month, Niall Williams, Oxford United’s managing director, said there is “no possibility” of securing a long-term lease at their current ground at Grenoble Road. This comes as the club step up in their bid to secure the land at Stratfield Brake, just south of Kidlington, towards submitting a planning application for a new ground. And with their lease at Grenoble Road expiring in 2026, McWilliams reiterated their future at the site is in the hands of landlords Firoka, owned by former U’s chairman Firoz Kassam.
The U’s scored five times against Oxford City in their first pre-season friendly of the campaign. Zac McEachran opened the scoring for the hosts but the U’s responded with a brace from Cameron Brannagan and strikes from James Henry and Sam Long. City scored again after the restart but Marcus Browne fired home a fifth goal on the hour mark.
Oxford followed that victory up with successive wins over North Leigh and Banbury United. Against the Millers, Marcus McGuane gave the U’s a first-half lead but the hosts levelled shortly after the restart. However, a penalty from former North Leigh striker Matty Taylor restored Oxford’s advantage before Browne rounded off the scoring.
Oxford then travelled to Southern League Premier Division Central champions Banbury and recorded another victory. Brannagan opened the scoring with his third goal in two games while youngster Tyler Goodrham added a second on the half-hour mark.
News then emerged that Oxford were one of three teams considering a move for Birmingham City youngster Keyandrah ‘Keke’ Simmonds. The 21-year-old Manchester City graduate and former England U18 international has also attracted interest from Sheffield Wednesday and MK Dons.
A young Oxford side continued the club’s 100 per cent winning record in pre-season friendlies with a 2-1 win at Hungerford. Trialist Jodi Jones made an impact for the U’s, assisting Oisin Smyth’s first Oxford goal with a header from a corner. The hosts scored immediately after the restart but young Thai attacker Ben Davis curled home the winner from 25 yards on the hour.
The U’s kept their winning run intact with a rout at Eastleigh. A brace from Browne, a strike from Steve Seddon, a Brannagan penalty and a long-range effort from Jones sealed a comfortable 5-1 victory.
Oxford the. suffered their first defeat in pre-season with a 2-0 loss at home to Coventry City. Defender Jonathan Panzo netted twice for the visitors either side of halftime.
In a transfer move out of the blue, reports in Ireland claimed that a “deal had been agreed” between Oxford and Sligo Rovers for 22-year-old goalkeeper, Ed McGinty. The possible incoming of another shot-stopper seemed odd, with Simon Eastwood recently committing his future to the club and Jack Stevens enjoying regular football, but the link was genuine, as we later saw.
Following their 2-0 preseason friendly defeat against Coventry, the U’s then suffered another defeat against Championship opposition. A second-half brace from Karlan Grant and an own goal from Yoav Sade meant Steve Bruce’s West Bromwich Albion ran out 3-0 winners.
Following their loss against the Baggies, Oxford then made their second summer signing with the arrival of Stuart Findlay from Philadelphia Union. The 26-year-old, who has been a target for Robinson for some time, has signed a four-year deal with the club.
Leeds United youngster Lewis Bate then became linked with a move to the U’s. Several League One clubs have shown interest in the former Chelsea midfielder but a report claims that Robinson is a huge admirer of the England U20 international.
The club appointed Greg Ferguson as their new director. The 60-year-old has previously worked with former board member Erick Thohir at Inter Milan from 2014 to 2017. This move signals that the takeover of the club, led by Bakrie, could be taking a significant step towards completion.
Later that day, Robinson recruited another new addition with the arrival of Ed McGinty from Sligo Rovers. The 22-year-old joined the club for an undisclosed fee and arrives on a three-year deal, with the option of an additional 12 months.
Oxford then boosted their attacking options with the addition of 30-year-old winger Yanic Wildschut. The former Norwich City man penned a two-year deal and arrives at Grenoble Road for an undisclosed fee from CSKA Sofia.
Robinson is set to battle with Blackburn Rovers for the signature of Liverpool youngster, Tyler Morton. The 19-year-old England U20 international has turned out nine times for the Reds but the midfielder is in need of regular first-team football.
Sticking with Blackburn, they were the latest club to be linked with a move for Oxford midfielder, Cameron Brannagan. QPR had also shown interest in the 26-year-old, who has one year remaining on his current deal.
Former Cardiff and Norwich winger Josh Murphy was named on the bench for Oxford’s pre-season match against AFC Wimbledon. The 27-year-old was released by the Bluebirds in the summer despite an £11 million transfer in 2018. The game ended goalless, while Brannagan missed a penalty in the second half.
Shortly after their stalemate against the Dons, the club unveiled Murphy as their latest addition, with the winger penning a two-year deal.
Championship club Blackpool have triggered the seven-figure release clause in Cameron Brannagan’s contract. The Seasiders were interested in the midfielder throughout last season and appear to have finally landed their man.
More bad news emerged when Anthony Forde left the club to join National League outfit, Wrexham. The 28-year-old turned out 93 times following his arrival from Rotherham in 2019.
However, the negativity quickly turned when Brannagan rejected an offer from the Seasiders, instead penning a three-year contract at Oxford. The news got better, with the removal of a release clause in his new deal.
Having spent most of pre-season with the club, Jodi Jones finally became Oxford’s sixth summer signing. The former Coventry winger had an injury-hit spell at the Ricoh Arena but has penned a one-year deal with the option of an additional 12 months.
The 2022/23 season kicked off with defeat against Derby County. The U’s matched their recently relegated opponents but a late strike sealed the win for the Rams.
