Oxford United ‘raise concerns’ over Championship rival boss

The BBC has reported that the U’s are uncomfortable with a potential conflict of interest involving Michael O’Neill.

The Blackburn Rovers boss is also manager of Northern Ireland and has four Oxford players in his squad to face Wales on Tuesday.

The friendly between the two ‘home nations’ was arranged after Northern Ireland lost 2-0 to Italy, while Wales lost on penalties to Bosnia Herzegovina, last week.

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The results ended both sides hopes of playing in this summer’s American World Cup.

The BBC said the English Football League (EFL) confirmed it had been contacted by “one or more clubs” about the situation in which a manager of a Championship club fighting relegation is in charge of several relegation rivals’ players through his international team.

Reportedly that club was Oxford, with their match at home to Hull happening three days after the international game (Friday April 3).

The U’s then have another game three days later away to Portsmouth on Monday April 6.

Northern Ireland’s Jamie Donley heads to the player’s tunnel in their Italy defeat (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)

Not only does Mr O’Neill have Jamie Donley, Ciaron Brown, Brodie Spencer and Jamie McDonnell of Oxford in his Northern Ireland squad but players from Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion as well.

His club side Blackburn are 19th in the Championship table on 43 points only four points above Oxford in 23rd.

Reportedly the EFL said that it was not a matter for them to be dealing with but by FIFA and the national association involved.

Oxford United’s Will Lankshear wrestles Southampton’s Cameron Archer for the ball (Image: Oxford United)

They added that they expect all decisions to be taken in a way that does not bring the game into disrepute.

Mr O’Neill was questioned on the matter at a press conference yesterday evening (Monday, March 30).

“We’re not in charge of the schedule of the games for either the international window or the EFL. I think 80 per cent of my squad play in the EFL,” he insisted.

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“We’re mindful of the situation for the clubs, of course, but when the clubs signed these players, they knew they were international players and, we’re not going to be reckless with the players or anything like that there, but, we have to obviously look after ourselves as a group of players.

“The most important thing is that the players just go out and play the game. They’ll be fine. The lads who play in the EFL, they play a lot of football and they’re used to playing regular football.

“So they’ve got resilience and I’m sure they’ll get through the game fine.”