Why manager Neil Warnock visited relegated Oxford United

The legendary football coach, who managed clubs such as Leeds United, Crystal Palace, and Middlesbrough, appeared at Oxford’s training ground and posed with some of The U’s players on social media.

Yellows stars, Brodie Spencer, Ciaron Brown, Will Vaulks, and Michal Helik were all pictured with Warnock in a photo that the 77-year-old shared on his X account.

Warnock is a friend of Craig Short, a coach on the team at Oxford who has acted as caretaker boss on a number of occasions, with the duo spending two years together at Sheffield United from 2005 to 2007.

Short was a defender for the Blades in that period whilst Warnock was in charge.

The U’s players pictured with the cult hero manager all played under him at various points in Warnock’s career.

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Spencer and Helik were both at Huddersfield Town during Warnock’s second spell the club in 2023 with lasted seven months.

Midfielder Vaulks played under the current Torquay United football advisor at Rotherham United whilst Brown was managed by him at Cardiff City.

The visit comes four days after relegation to League One was confirmed for The U’s and three days before their final Championship game of the season against Millwall.