Championship Oxford United are in search of a new manager to lead them in their battle against relegation to League One. The U’s have confirmed that First Team Head coach Gary Rowett has departed the club after a year in charge.
The Oxfordshire side find themselves inside the relegation zone with Rowett picking up 19 points from 22 games. This article will take a look at five managers who could replace Rowett at the Kassam Stadium.
Matt Bloomfield – Unattached
A manager that Oxford United could turn to is one who was relegated out of the Championship last season. Matt Bloomfield was in charge of Luton Town who suffered back-to-back relegation to League One in May.
After a significant turnover of players in the summer, Bloomfield was sacked from the Bedfordshire side in October. Despite this setback, the 41-year-old is interested in getting back into management:
“I know the right job is out there where I can build long-term success. I love it and I want to do it again”
Prior to his spell at Luton, Bloomfield had led Wycombe Wanderers to second spot in League One. He left the Chairboys having taken 2.04 points-per-game in 25 games and scoring an average of two goals-per-game.
Bloomfield managed to turn Luton’s form around as well despite relegation from the Championship. His Hatters side were ranked 16th in the division for points accrued during the time he was in charge at Kenilworth Road.
The 41-year-old’s experience in both the Championship and League One could be a significant reason for him taking over the vacant Oxford United role.
Michael Skubala – Lincoln City
One manager that Oxford United could look to who is doing a good job in League One is Michael Skubala. The 43-year-old has been in charge at the LNER Stadium for just over two years and has helped the club progress during that period.
In his first full season in charge, Skubala’s Lincoln finished 11th with 42.7 expected goals (xG) conceded, the fifth best in the division. The Imps have improved once again so far this season and currently sit second in the table.
The 43-year-old has picked up an average of 1.8 points-per-game this season and a win rate of 52%. The Imps rank amongst the league’s top six for goals scored and conceded with 1.4 and 1 goals respectively.
A move from Oxford for Skubala could represent a degree of risk given he has not managed in the Championship. Any potential appointment of Skubala could come with a significant compensation fee as his contract runs until the end of the 2027-28 season.
However, as a long-term appointment, Skubala could provide an opportunity for Oxford to build and come back stronger should relegation from the Championship be confirmed at the end of the season.
Tony Mowbray – Unattached
If Oxford United want to look for an experienced coach to lead them out of trouble, then Tony Mowbray may be the best option. The 62-year-old has significant experience of the Championship having managed Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion in the last five years.
During his time at Sunderland, Mowbray led the Black Cats to the play-offs in his first season and picked up 1.5 points-per-game across his tenure. His ability to build confidence amongst his squads could be a significant factor in Oxford’s decision given their current position.
His most recent spells in charge at Birmingham and West Brom saw win percentages of 29%. Despite this, the trajectory of the two sides after he left both clubs suggests there may be other factors to his poor records.
Liam Manning – Unattached
Some may argue that you should never go back to your former club. However, in this case, it may be a good move for both Oxford United and Liam Manning.
The 40-year-old had an eight-month spell at Oxford which saw him gain an average of 1.7 points-per-game. He was most recently in charge of Norwich City and oversaw a disastrous spell.
Manning left the East Anglian side 23rd in the Championship with eight defeats from eight home games. However, this period of time should not distract from the job the 40-year-old did at Bristol City last season.
He led the Robins to a sixth-place finish and their highest position since the 2018-19 season. The 40-year-old picked up an average of 1.48 points-per-game and won 37% of games across the season.
Manning will be keen to get back into management and may have to take a drop in his expectations given his poor spell at Norwich. A move back to the Kassam Stadium could be his path back into management and provide Oxford with a Head Coach whose stock was high after the 2024-25 season.
Alex Revell – Stevenage
Another manager who Oxford United could look to from the league below is Stevenage’s Alex Revell. The 42-year-old was appointed as manager of the Hertfordshire side in April 2024 and, similarly to Skubala at Lincoln, has helped with the club’s progression in the third tier.
In his first season in charge, he led Boro to 14th and this season has led them to become a surprise contender for a promotion place. Currently his side sit fourth with 1.8 points-per-game.
Revell’s side have the best defensive record in the division with 0.8 goals conceded per match and have kept seven clean sheets. On top of this, Stevenage rank third in League One for xG conceded across the season with a total of 19.8 xG.
His ability to build a strong defensive unit may provide the ability for Oxford to improve their defence. The U’s currently have the joint-fourth worst defence in the league with 1.4 goals conceded per match.
Despite the impressive defensive statistics and position against the odds, a move for Revell could be seen as a risk. The 42-year-old has only managed 159 first-team games during his two spells with Stevenage and is fairly new to management.
However, should Oxford United be looking to give a young, upcoming manager a chance in the second tier then Alex Revell could be a suitable option for them.