Oxford United coach wants ‘quality’ Will Lankshear replacement

The U’s lost some key players after being relegated from the Championship, with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur striker Lankshear and Brentford midfielder Yunus Konak returning to their parent clubs.

Eastwood says the club must replace these players with quality whilst keeping their ‘core’.

The 36-year-old goalkeeper recently signed a new contract in OX4 as a coach, helping the next generation of shot-stopper whilst still training with the first team and to support the goalkeeping department.

“I’m happy to be here still,” Eastwood told The Dub, BBC Radio Oxford.

“Hopefully I can be here for a long time to give back my knowledge I’ve got over the years with this club. In League One, things happen, there are a lot of games in different competitions and I’m sure that if I’m called upon, I could come in and do a job when needed.

Simon Eastwood Signs New Coaching Contract.

Easty will officially help to coach the next generation of Oxford United goalkeepers and will continue to train with the Men’s Team to support the First Team goalkeepers.

— Oxford United (@OUFCOfficial) May 27, 2026

“Will Lankshear, who probably won’t be coming back, will be a massive loss. Players like that, for me, we need to replace with good quality to get us some goals to get us straight back up.”

Oxford United striker Will Lankshear has returned to parent club Spurs (Image: Jason Dawson)

The veteran keeper is close with Yellows captain Cameron Brannagan, with the duo two of the longest-serving players at the club.

“I speak to Cam on a daily basis. He obviously loves the club as well, he’s been here a long time.

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Simon Eastwood signs new Oxford United player-coach contract (Image: James Williamson)

“He’s absolutely devastated to go down and he wants to be a Championship player, wants to play in the Championship, wants to do it with Oxford. As a team, we just need to bounce back as quickly as we can. Hopefully we can keep our core and our best players.”

Eastwood has been at the club for 10 years now after joining in 2016, his second spell with the club.

His first spell was an unsuccessful year in 2010/11 where he was second fiddle to Ryan Clarke and failed to make an appearance before being released.

“I’m very realistic and open about my career.

Cameron Brannagan on the ball for Oxford United (Image: Mike Allen)

“I’m not a Championship keeper. Five or 10 years ago, maybe I could’ve given it a good shot.

“Could I come in and do a job for a game or so? I think I could. But to be consistently playing, week-in, week-out, I probably don’t think I’m there anymore in the Championship.

“League One, I think, is a little bit different in the sense of I’m still good enough to…I’ve obviously played a lot of games in League One since I’ve been at Oxford and I know the standard.

“We’ve got two really good goalkeepers in Jamie [Cumming] and Matt [Ingram] at the moment, so I was never going into training every day or knocking on the manager’s door thinking I should be playing.”