The U’s had their relegation confirmed on Saturday ahead of their 4-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday and are set to return to the third tier of English football after two seasons in the Championship.

Head coach Matt Bloomfield admitted after the weekend’s win that preparations for next season would begin imminently and is has been reported by reporter Pete O’Rourke that The Yellows are set to battle Portsmouth for the signing of Villa starlet O’Reilly.

Oxford United head coach Matt Bloomfield (Image: Jason Dawson)

The 22-year-old has spent the current campaign on loan at League Two outfit Crewe Alexandra, netting seven goals and securing 11 assists in 45 fourth-tier appearances.

Crewe currently sit in 10th place in the division, 10 points away from the play-off places.

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O’Reilly endured his first loan spell away in 2024 at Villa’s sister club Real Union in Spain, but only managed two appearances as his six-month spell in the second half of 2023/24 was curtailed by injury.

He then spent six months in League One with struggling Shrewsbury before spending the second half of the 2024/25 campaign in League Two with MK Dons.

The attacking midfielder was been compared to Manchester City and England star Phil Foden by teammates at Villa due to his playing style, as well as drawing similarities to former Arsenal man and current Luton Town manager Jack Wilshere.

The U’s ran out 4-1 winners at the Kassam on Saturday in their final home game of the Championship season and only moments before Matt Bloomfield’s team had their relegation to League One confirmed thanks to results elsewhere.

In a clash between two already relegated sides, Will Lankshear scored a stylish brace before Will Vaulks bagged a third for The Yellows.

Oxford United’s Stan Mills causes trouble in the box against Sheffield Wednesday (Image: Jason Dawson)

17-year-old Will Grainger pulled one back for Wednesday before Myles Peart-Harris scored Oxford’s fourth goal a minute later.

With their fate already decided, United played with attacking freedom and seemingly a weight off their shoulders, catching The Owls off guard.

“We had not expected that they would play so many short passes,” Pedersen confessed after the match.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen (Image: Cody Froggatt/PA Wire)

“Normally it’s a very direct team with a lot of long balls.

“Today they played very few long balls and there was a big freedom for them. So our pressing in first half was not how we want to be from the intensity but also tactically.

“I think, in the second half, we had control for our pressing, we made some adjustments and there was also more intensity in second half for our pressing and we also created chances too.

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Oxford United’s Will Lankshear is challenged against Sheffield Wednesday (Image: Jason Dawson)

“But of course, when you conceded four goals, then it’s also difficult to win. So today we didn’t deserve it.

“We were honest, we were not prepared that they will play so much on the ground. We were prepared for how they have played the last many games, much more direct. They normally have the ball less and we were prepared for a more direct game, a second ball game.

Oxford United’s Stan Mills (right) celebrates with goal scorer Myles Peart-Harris (left) (Image: Jason Dawson)

“So the priority to be good on the second ball instead of in the first pressing is a great problem for us and we changed this.

“We tried to change to the first half, it was better the last 15-20 minutes and then I think we solved it for the second half when we changed things in the second half. So in the second half, our pressing was much, much better and much more controlled.

“But one thing is the formation, the other thing is the intensity and the collective relation you put in and it was not good enough in the first half.”

Oxford look ahead to the final day of the regular Championship season this Saturday with a trip to automatic promotion chasing Millwall.

The ceremony, sponsored by DA Building & Roofing, took place at Oxford Town Hall in front of around 300 guests.

Stan Mills and Grace Palmer won the Players’ Player of the Year Award, with Stan also winning the Supporters’ Player of the Year Award alongside Holly Manders.

A total of 10 awards were presented during the event which was hosted by TNT Sports’ Liam MacDevitt, who was joined by former England manager Steve McClaren.

The first award, the Jack Casley Men’s Young Player of the Year Award, sponsored by Smiths Bletchington, was awarded to Will Lankshear for his incredible year in front of goal, hitting double figures in the league.

A new honour, the Women’s Young Player of the Year Award, was introduced this year and presented to the family of Amelia Aplin, who tragically passed away during an Academy game.

It was also announced that the award will be permanently named the Amelia Aplin Women’s Young Player of the Year Award in her memory.

The Golden Boot Awards, sponsored by Grundon Waste Management, were won by Will Lankshear and Emma Thompson for the men and women.

Will Vaulks was honoured with the Community Player of the Year award, sponsored by Bradford Decorating, for his work in developing a suicide prevention campaign within the club.

The Mickey Lewis Club Person of the Year, sponsored by Wenn Townsend, was awarded to safeguarding lead, Jack Nield.

The Joey Beauchamp Goals of the Season awards, sponsored by Oxair, were voted for on the night by the guests.

The awards went to Cameron Brannagan for his critical strike against Millwall, and Shaunna Jenkins, for her incredible volley against Hashtag United.

It was then time for the night’s most prestigious awards, the Men’s and Women’s Players’ Player of the Year, sponsored by Textures Flooring, claimed by Stan Mills, and Grace Palmer.

The Supporter’s Player of the Year award, sponsored by Gregory Surveyors, was handed to Holly Manders for the women.

Meanwhile, the Andrew Knapton Men’s Supporters’ Player of the Year, sponsored by DA Building & Roofing, saw Stan Mills celebrating his second award of the night as he was honoured by the fans. 

Guests enjoyed a three-course dinner provided by Elegant Cuisine with a host of speakers entertaining the crowd, including men’s and women’s team head coaches, Matt Bloomfield and Liam Gilbert, reflecting on the year across the club.

The club thanked DA Roofing & Building for sponsoring the evening, along with other supporters and guests.