Ex-England pro details cause of Oxford United relegation

The U’s struggled to find consistency in form and team selection in the first half of the season under Rowett before Matt Bloomfield replaced the former boss in January.

After Bloomfield’s came in, United improved with the club 14th in the form table from the 42-year-old’s arrival to the end of the season.

Oxford finished 22nd in the second tier and were relegated to League One alongside Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday.

“Obviously disappointed that they didn’t quite manage to stay up in the end,” 19-time England international Mills said, whose son Stan picked up the Supporters’ and Player’s Player of the Year awards at the end of the season.

“They gave themselves too much to do. Lots of things didn’t work in that first half of the season.

Stan Mills hits the deck after Oxford United lose to Wrexham (Image: Jason Dawson)

“There wasn’t a huge amount of consistency. They struggled to find a settled team and it was changed very regularly, which is always disruptive.

“I think by the time the new manager and coaching staff came in, they were already behind the eight ball. It was always going to be very difficult and a bit of an uphill struggle. But I think the second half of the season was very, very bright. I think they had a good season overall.

“They gave it everything. They probably took it a little bit further than some people thought they would. They kept themselves in it right until the penultimate game of the season.

“The manager and coaching staff came in, and I think did very well. There was a much more settled structure and a lot more consistency.”

READ MORE: Oxford United’s Brodie Spencer on facing Kylian Mbappe

READ MORE: Every League One player released ahead of 2026/27 season

READ MORE: Oxford United eye transfer for Sunderland defender Johnson

Oxford United head coach Matt Bloomfield applauds the crowd before Watford win (Image: Oxford United)

Mills’ son and Oxford winger, Stan, enjoyed a strong year in yellow, performing consistently well whilst managing three goals and four assists in a struggling U’s side.

“It’s nice when a player is given the opportunity to show what he can do,” the senior Mills continued, courtesy of Betway.

Oxford United winger Stan Mills in action against West Brom (Image: Jason Dawson)

“A couple of Player of the Season awards were good for Stan on a personal note. He was obviously very, very disappointed by the relegation.

“But I think Oxford will be very, very strong in League One. They’ve been there before. They’ve had a couple of seasons in the Championship. I expect they’ll retain a lot of their players and the nucleus of the squad.

“Some have already left and I’m sure there’ll be one or two changes before the window closes. But it’s a strong League One squad that has experience. From what I saw from the manager and coaching staff, next season they’ll go into it looking to bounce straight back to the Championship.”