Oxford united FC
Oxford United boss opens up on transfer ban & squad absences
The former Arsenal and Premier League icon has been in charge of the U’s for almost four weeks after taking over from Matt Bloomfield.
United are currently in Spain for a warm-weather training camp ahead of the 2026/27 League One season.
Oxford were hit with the transfer ban last week meaning they are temporarily banned from registering any new players.
The club have stated that they will be in a strong position ahead of the January transfer window.
“I can empathise with the fans – the frustration and things in that situation and maybe not having that clarity – but from my perspective, nothing changes,” the former Wales international said.
“I’m really excited to work with this group of players. The way that I work and my staff work, I feel like there’s a lot of room for improvement as well.
“We’re fully committed to this. It’s just bringing everybody together to make sure we have a successful season, but also I’m calm and confident.
“I’m reassured that this situation will be resolved as quickly as possible.”
Ramsey also touched on the absences of winger Stan Mills and new signing Frankie Kent from the squad in Spain.
Kent has been confirmed to be out of action for a number of months after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury after only joining the club last month.
“We’re really gutted about Frankie’s situation,” the 35-year-old Yellows boss continued.
“He’s a really positive character, really excited to work with him, but sometimes these things happen in football, but we’re right behind him. We’ll stand by him through this difficult time and I’m sure he’ll be back before we know it.
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“Stan had an illness earlier on in the week, so the doc’s been monitoring that back at home.
“We feel like it’s best now that he gains a little bit of fitness back there, but I’m excited for him to re-join the group now on Monday.”
Ramsey added two new faces to his coaching staff recently in former Wales teammate Chris Gunter and ex-Cardiff City Under-18s lead coach Tom Hutton.
“I always knew [Gunter] was destined to go on and become a great coach as well.
“He understands it from the player’s perspective. He’s really detailed and has a great energy about him as well.
“The way he sees the game is exactly the way that I see the game.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have been starting my coaching journey with the Cardiff 18s and seeing the way that [Hutton] works.
“I was blown away by his detail and the way that he sees the game and the way that he can transform that onto the grass.
“I think they’re great additions for us and so far, I think the boys have bought into them.”
Thames Valley Police has confirmed that Aiden Murray, 23, of Little Bury, Oxford, has been charged with one count of breaching a Football Banning Order. He has been bailed to appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on 14 January 2027.
The police force has also confirmed that a 19-year-old man from Wokingham was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after damage was caused to a bus. He has since been released on conditional bail.
A 16-year-old boy from Reading was also arrested on suspicion of a Section 5 Public Order Act offence and failing to provide details under Section 50 of the Police Reform Act. He has been released on bail pending further enquiries.
Thames Valley Police has also confirmed that there were 19 Section 35 dispersals issued in Reading and Oxford, four of which were issued by British Transport Police.
Whilst Section 60AA powers were used to require individuals to remove face coverings. All individuals complied with officers’ requests and, as such, no breaches were recorded.
A Section 35 order gives police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) the power to direct individuals causing, or likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to leave a specified area.
A Section 60AA order gives uniformed officers the power to require any person to remove items worn wholly or mainly to conceal their identity, such as face coverings, and to seize any item they reasonably believe is intended for that purpose.
The U’s away match at Wigan Athletic has been delayed by 24 hours and will now be played on January 20, with an 8pm kick-off. It will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event.
The return Thames Valley Derby against Reading, scheduled for February 6, will start at 12.30pm.
United’s home fixture against Luton Town on February 27 will also be shown on television and will kick off at 12.30pm.
The U’s are third in the League One table and have gone 10 games unbeaten. They beat Thames Valley rivals Reading 2-0 on Wednesday night.
Broadcast selections for March 5-8, 2027, will be announced by February 5, with weekly announcements then covering four weeks ahead.
Cumming was left out of the squad due to suspension as Oxford beat Thames Valley rivals Reading 2-0 in League One, whilst Helik was forced off in the second half with an injury.
The win saw Reading-born duo Gatlin O’Donkor and Mo Missanga score at the Kassam Stadium to extend the Yellows’ league unbeaten run to 10 games.
U’s goalkeeper Cumming was not available in midweek after being sent off in the final minutes against Barnsley last weekend.
The club had appealed against the red card, with Ramsey providing an update after the match: “They said the decision was the same as the ref’s decision, and they didn’t want to change it.
“So, look, it is what it is. We have to deal with it.
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“And then, look, it gives opportunity again for Simon Eastwood to come in and have another solid performance with a clean sheet.
“So, we have players who are ready.”
Cumming will see out a three-game suspension, with it understood that he will miss the weekend’s FA Cup clash with Stevenage but will be available in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy against Cheltenham Town.
The United boss also opened up on the injury to Helik, saying: “He had a knock on his knee from the last match [against Barnsley].
“He’s done well to get through the minutes that he did tonight.
“He felt it a little bit, but no risk taken there.
“So, an opportunity now for him to recover a little bit before the league starts up again.
“We’ll assess him. We’ll see how he responds over the next few days.”
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