Oxford united FC
Oxford United sack Matt Bloomfield ahead of League One season
Bloomfield was appointed in January after the departure of Gary Rowett with the aim of keeping the U’s in the Championship.
Despite an upturn in form, Oxford were relegated to the third tier in 22nd place, along with Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday.
A statement from the club read: “Oxford United can confirm the departure of Matt Bloomfield as men’s first team head coach.
“Matt was appointed in January 2026 and oversaw the second half of the 2025/26 season, a campaign which ultimately ended in relegation to League One. Throughout his tenure, he represented Oxford United with professionalism and integrity.
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“We would like to thank Matt for his efforts and wish him every success in the future.
“The process of appointing a new men’s first team head coach will begin immediately, and the club will provide updates in due course.”
United was Bloomfield’s fourth job in management and second in the Championship.
The 42-year-old began his coaching career with Colchester United after a long playing career with Wycombe Wanderers.
He then returned to the Chairboys in 2023, taking over from Gareth Ainsworth and had the Buckinghamshire side in the automatic play-off places in League One before jumping ship to second-tier outfit Luton Town in January 2025.
Bloomfield failed to keep the Hatters suffering back-to-back relegations, however, and was relieved of his duties in October of the following season, before taking over in OX4 three months later.
The Englishman went his first three games unbeaten, with two draws and a win, before enduring his first defeat as Yellows boss at home against Birmingham City.
A tough run followed in February before the club’s fortunes turned on the final day of the month with a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion.
The U’s won two more matches after that and put in consistently promising performances before faltering in the final four games, defeats to Derby County and Wrexham ultimately sealed the club’s fate.
Oxford won their final home game of the Championship season 4-1 against bottom-of-the-table Wednesday before losing 2-0 on the final day to third-placed Millwall.
The search for a new head coach begins immediately, say the club as it searches for its fourth manager in under two years.
Fixtures for the new EFL season are to be released on Thursday, June 25, with the players also reporting back from their holidays at the end of the month.
Bloomfield was the third boss to take charge of the U’s in the Championship after Des Buckingham guided them to promotion and Gary Rowett ensured first-season survival.
Head coaches have chopped and changed more recently over the past few years, reflected the current state of the modern game, so here is a look at what Oxford’s past five gaffers are doing now.
Gary Rowett (2024-2025)
After guiding United to second-tier survival in 2024/25, Rowett was sacked as manager last December.
The 52-year-old was given the task of keeping Championship rivals Leicester City in the division in February with a contract until the end of the season.
He has since had some work as a pundit, including on last season’s play-off final between Hull City and Middlesbrough.
Des Buckingham (2023-24)
Oxford-born Buckingham led the U’s to League One promotion via the play-offs in 2023/24 but was surprisingly sacked in December of the following season.
After eight months out of the game, the 41-year-old was appointed head coach of Saudi Arabian club Al-Kholood.
He recently guided the club to the Kings Cup final for the first time ever, narrowly defeated at the hands of an Al Hilal side featuring former Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema.
Liam Manning (2023)
Manning took over in March 2023, the club ending the season 19th in League One.
A spectacular start to the following campaign saw United high up in second before Bristol City poached the impressive young coach in November.
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The 40-year-old was most recently in charge of League One Huddersfield Town but left in May following a period of compassionate leave and is currently without employment.
Karl Robinson (2018-2023)
The longest serving of the quintet, Robinson was well-liked at Oxford.
He led the club to two play-off campaigns but suffered to defeat in the 2020 final to Matt Bloomfield-captained Wycombe Wanderers and lost in the semi-finals to Blackpool the following season.
The 45-year-old was sacked in early 2023 following a run of eight games without a win.
He was recently harshly let go by League Two side Salford City after a 3-0 defeat in the play-off final to Notts County and is out of work.
Pep Clotet (2017-2018)
The most recent foreign boss at the Kassam, Spaniard Clotet lasted just six months in OX4.
Relieved of his duties in January 2018, the Barcelona-born man could only manage a record of 12 wins from his 26 matches in charge.
Clotet is currently away from management, his last role being with Italian outfit Triestina where he astoundingly physically ‘attacked’ one of his own players after they were sent off in November 2024.
The 49-year-old was sacked later that month.
Matt Bloomfield’s Yellows are still to make their first signing of the summer transfer window after it opened on Monday.
The U’s have reportedly met with Colchester United forward Kyreece Lisbie, with Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday both also interested, and the club has now been linked with in-demand Doncaster captain Bailey.
The midfielder has been at Rovers since 2023 and was named in the League One Team of the Season last term.
Bailey managed an impressive 13 goals and five assists in 46 third-tier games from midfield as Donny finished 14th in the league.
The 27-year-old rose through the ranks of Premier League side Newcastle United’s academy before suffering injury troubles and being released by the Magpies.
He then joined Gateshead in 2021 before making the move to South Yorkshire two years later.
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Oxford are now eyeing a move for the Englishman, according to Football Insider, but face hefty competition.
Fellow League One competitors Sheffield Wednesday, Stockport County, Bradford City and MK Dons are all also reportedly in the hunt.
As well as being named in the Team of the Season, Bailey was also nominated for the League One Player of the Season award but lost out to Leyton Orient striker Dom Ballard.
Lisbie has been the subject of plenty of interest from League One clubs having previously met with Oxford over a potential deal.
It was revealed earlier this week that Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town have entered the race for the Colchester United forward, with Reading having dropped out of the hunt not long ago.
Matt Bloomfield’s U’s are yet to secure a first signing of the summer transfer window which opened on Monday.
Former Brentford B youngster Lisbie had a breakout season in League Two last term, scoring 11 times and assisting eight in all competitions.
His twin brother, Kyrell, currently plays for Peterborough, but the club’s chairman, Darragh MacAnthony, has confirmed that the Kyreece will not be joining his brother at the Posh.
When asked on X whether Kyreece would be going to Peterborough, MacAnthony replied: “No chance. Too expensive. Wages wise been offered by massive clubs for our cap, and now bigger clubs in. That’s football. Move on and next!”
The news means that competition for Lisbie’s signature has decreased slightly.
It was reported by Football League World that Wednesday were in the hunt, however the Posh owner has hinted at the contrary.
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When one Owls fan asked if Lisbie would be heading to Sheffield, MacAnthony replied: “No, buddy.”
If true, that would leave Huddersfield and Oxford as the two main clubs named in reports as contenders for the 22-year-old’s services.
Reports from the Reading Chronicle have stated that the fee required for Lisbie is in the region of £500,000 to £750,000 with the Colchester man entering the final year of his contract in Essex.
The English forward, who is the son of former Premier League and EFL striker Kevin Lisbie, helped Danny Cowley’s side to a 12th-placed finish in League Two last year.
Oxford will be looking to improve their forward line for next season after the big loss of top goal scorer Will Lankshear to parent club Tottenham Hotspur.
The U’s currently have Stan Mills as their only traditional right midfielder meaning the addition of Lisbie would provide some healthy depth and competition if the club is able to keep hold of Mills this summer.
On the left, Aidomo Emakhu and Jeon Jin-woo are both tied to the club, with Siriki Dembele and Marselino Ferdinan both on the fringes.
Oxford will compete in League One next season after suffering relegation from the Championship last term, finishing 22nd in the table.
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