Oxford United have taken the decisive step to relieve manager Gary Rowett of his duties, with the club now entrenched in the Championship's relegation places.
A Disappointing Run Seals Fate
The decision was confirmed by the club on the back of a damaging 1-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic this past Saturday. That result proved to be the final straw, consigning Oxford United to the bottom three of the second-tier table. The team's form has been a significant concern, having managed to secure victory in just one of their last ten Championship fixtures.
Rowett's Tenure and Chairman's Statement
Gary Rowett, who was appointed last December, initially succeeded in a crucial objective. He steered the club to safety in their first season back in the Championship, ensuring they retained their status at this level. Recognising this achievement, Oxford chairman Grant Ferguson expressed gratitude in an official statement.
"Gary joined during a challenging period and deserves immense credit for the hard work and leadership that saw us retain our Championship status last season," Ferguson said.
However, the chairman explained that the recent slump in results forced the board's hand. "However, following a disappointing run of results, we have had to take this difficult decision in the best interests of the Club."
Looking to the Future
The statement concluded with thanks to Rowett and his assistant, Mark, for their contributions and wished them well for the future. The search for a new manager will now begin urgently as Oxford United, a club with recent memories of promotion, face a fierce battle to avoid an immediate return to League One. The board will be under pressure to appoint a successor who can swiftly reverse the team's fortunes and inspire a fight for Championship survival.
