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    Oxford United begin search for new head coach after dismissing Matt Bloomfield

    sportsnewsukBy No Comments7 Mins Read
    Oxford United begin search for new head coach after dismissing Matt Bloomfield

    Oxford United begin their search for new head coach after dismissing Matt Bloomfield following relegation from the Championship.

    @GraemeBailey first announced the news, tweeting: “Matt Bloomfield is set to leave Oxford United, @TEAMtalk understands. Bloomfield was unable to save Oxford from relegation after replacing Gary Rowett.”

    Tom Burrows (@TBurrows16) shortly after wrote that Matt Bloomfield was dismissed as Oxford United head coach. The club statement soon followed…

    CLUB STATEMENT:

    Oxford United can confirm the departure of Matt Bloomfield as Men’s First Team Head Coach.

    Matt was appointed in January 2026 and oversaw the second half of the 2025/26 season, a campaign which ultimately ended in relegation to League One. Throughout his tenure, he represented Oxford United with professionalism and integrity.

    We would like to thank Matt for his efforts and wish him every success in the future.

    The process of appointing a new Men’s First Team Head Coach will begin immediately, and the Club will provide updates in due course.

    FAVOURITES TO BECOME NEW OXFORD MANAGER:

    BetVictor – 20 June
    Dave Challinor – 4/1
    Karl Robinson – 8/1
    Alex Revell – 8/1
    John Terry – 8/1
    Rob Edwards – 8/1
    Steve Bruce – 10/1
    Mat Sadler – 10/1
    Richie Wellens – 10/1
    Alan Sheehan – 12/1

    On the 30th of April, he spoke of being confident of keeping his job at the club: “Yes, I’m confident,” he told BBC Radio Oxford.

    “I’ve enjoyed my time at the club. It’s obviously not been the outcome that we wanted for the season.

    “We’ve been pleasantly content with some of the improvements we have made but ultimately we wanted to stay in the league.

    “I’ve not given much thought to my job and the bigger situation and ultimately, as a manager or head coach, all you can do is focus on being the best you can be.”

    He said he hoped to be given the chance to win promotion with the U’s next season and that he had thebacking of the board to do so.

    “I’ve not heard anything to the contrary,” he continued.

    “I keep doing my job. I don’t know anything else, so I keep working.

    “We’ve spent lots of time with Ed (Waldron) this week as we always do, talking about everything that’s going on around the building, around the team.

    “So from my side nothing’s changed, as a head coach and as a manager, I keep working.”

    Matt Bloomfield said to BBC Radio Oxford after relegation: “I think we were up against a very, very good team who showed in every element of their performance why they are where they are and why they have the chance of getting into the Premier League.

    “I thought we were not at our best, but considering the surroundings of the game it was always going to be a difficult game for us and that proved to be true.

    “Our supporters have been incredible. They are amazing group, we can all see how much pride they take in their football club, our guys are amazing, so a massive thank you to them.

    “The players care a lot, they’ve given us everything I believe that over the last four months since I’ve been in the building, we’re so terribly disappointed to come up short, but I don’t think that’s through a lack of effort.

    “I think everyone’s given it everything they’ve got and unfortunately for us we’ve not quite had enough to stay in the division.”

    Here’s how fans reacted as Oxford United begin the search for a new head coach after dismissing Matt Bloomfield…

    @oufc_adam: You what? Hope we aren’t becoming one of those clubs 😭

    @benthompson2305: Genuinely gutted and what terrible timing. We saw last season the impact of a disjointed pre-season, which we just can’t let happen again. Best of luck in the future Matt! #oufc

    @id6457: so we’re a couple weeks swaying from training camp, week into transfer window, wtf. better be a long way along finding his replacement.brave bold or just stupid decision. time will tell

    @LukeNigel_:
    Ummm
    Either, better option coming his way.
    Or
    We’ve got some weird master plan 😂 #OUFC

    @Joe_Citrone; As incredible as that day at Wembley was, promotion might have ended up doing more bad than good. From sacking Des, to appointing Rowett, to the randomness of the recruitment, to now this. No idea of who we are or what we want to be at this stage tbh. #oufc

    @mineflame: Dave Challinor anyone? #oufc

    @TomMRussell91: This is mad, thought at least giving him a chance in league 1 👀

    @billyoufc: Im not disappointed but i am disappointed in the club if your going to part company with your manager do it in may not a week before pre season starts #oufc

    @JakePhe29613660: Excuse me, what the fuck?!

    @VegasOx: Thank goodness, no way good enough, is Dave Challinor still available?

    @id6457: Brave, or stupid decision .only time will tell. no indication whether he’s jumped or pushed which could be telling. new chairman, different direction wants his own man perhaps .Timing crazy! buckle up ox fans #oufc

    @dan_oufc: Something has to have changed otherwise its poor timing… maybe a backroom bust up or maybe someone the board really admire has just become available? 👀

    @Elliot_OUFC: #OUFC If they sacked him, that’s well harsh, should’ve at least been given 10 games. But icl ts screams internal problems with the new chairman. We’d better get a replacement QUICKLY

    @Pumpum4870: Not a good sign, could of made this decision a month ago , I guess Dave Challinor then? #oufc

    @01jacobb: What the fuck ?

    @joxford22: V confused by this

    @HarryCallaghan_: What the fuck is going on.

    @h_oufc: Baffled.

    @bearonabike3: What the fuck !!! The club is obsessed on knackering our chances in pre season, pure idiocy

    @Marc_G_OUFC: The right decision, but a decision that should have been made 6 weeks ago. The club seems to be a mess from the top down #oufc

    @oufc_adam: Bizarre and harsh decision 🫣🫣 I was happy to keep Bloomfield. Why wait so long since the end of the season? 🫣🫣🫣

    @rachhfost: Firstly, not convinced this isn’t the right decision. Secondly, really don’t want to become ‘one of those’ clubs. 4 managers in the space of less than 2 years. Eek. #OUFC

    @GeorgeDugdale: One of those where you double check the finer details of the poster’s @ to make sure you’re not being had on. Was I overly enthused by his football? No. Did I have doubts about his ability to challenge next season? Yes. Is the timing absolutely wild? Definitely.

    @Stuartjamess: Maybe he wasn’t the one to take us forward long term but fuck me why don’t you do it as soon as the season ended. Writing on the wall as soon as they let Mitchell leave.



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