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Latest Commercial News:
8th Apr 01 - Following a fire at the new stadium last night, workers are assessing the damage and reinforcing the security fencing.
7th Apr 01 - OUFC have reported a loss of £74,859 for the year ended June 2000.
2nd April 01 - As expected, the Judicial Review set for today has been withdrawn.
30th Mar 01 - OUFC and Thames Water have signed a deal which, in turn, allows the Council to withdraw it's legal action against Les Wells. Without this happening, Mr Kassam would not have purchased the land from Les Wells and the Judicial Review, set for Monday 2nd April, would have gone ahead.
29th Mar 01 - FOUL were in attendance at tonight's Full Council Meeting and are happy to report that the vote was 27 to 0, in favour of approving the deal between Firoz Kassam, Les Wells and Oxford City Council. All parties will meet again tomorrow, together with Thames Water, to sign the contracts which should bring an end to all outstanding legal issues relating to Minchery Farm.
27th Mar 01 - FOUL Press Statement: FOUL urges Councillors to unite for United
Following the announcement of a deal between Firoz Kassam, Les Wells and Oxford City Council, the Oxford United supporters organisation FOUL (Fighting for Oxford United's Life) urges all parties concerned to continue to strive for a resolution to this issue. We especially look to the elected City Councillors to ensure that this deal is passed at next weeks full Council meeting, as the consequences to both United and the Minchery Farm leisure development could be dire if they fail to give this agreement their backing.
Should this final chance for United be squandered then FOUL insists that those involved be held accountable. We would anyway like answers from the Council's chief legal officer David Taylor, who is responsible for the Minchery Farm project, to the following questions: why did it take two years to bring the caution action against Les Wells over his alleged right of way? Why was the Thames Water agreement left for two years without being brought to a conclusion? Why have all the officers dealing with this issue been allowed to take early retirement when the issue is still unresolved?
All is not yet lost, but if this final deal is opposed then there is a very great threat to United's future. FOUL urges the Council to make good their promises immediately and resolve the land ownership issues.
Steve Hanks, Chairman of FOUL, said "The City council now has one last chance to consign this whole sorry saga to the history books. If they make the right choice Oxford United can look forward to a secure future for the first time in years if not decades, and Oxford residents can look forward to leisure facilities they have been denied for so many years."
We urge all United supporters to ensure that their local Oxford City Councillor is made fully aware of their concerns.
The Council's Strategy and Resource committee have today voted in favour of approving a deal, which will mean that Les Wells will drop his two legal challenges relating to the Minchery Farm development. The recommendation needs to be ratified at a full council meeting on Thursday.
23rd Mar 01 - Firoz Kassam, the City Council and Les Wells met last night in a bid to resolve the outstanding issues relating to the new ground at Minchery Farm. Although they have reached agreement, the deal needs to be approved by the Strategy and Resources committee, on Tuesday. This will then require further ratification by Full Council on Thursday.Mr Kassam stated that if the above deal was not approved by the council, he would walk away from the Club.
Mr Kassam, who has been spending in excess of £1 million a month on the new stadium, said "I want to make it clear that the ball is very much in the City's court now. It is in the hands of the Councillors and the Officers, and if they can deliver a document agreeing to this new deal by Wednesday, then I will continue to pay the contractors and the club. If not, then it is my intention not to pay any further money to the contractors and to ask them to stop work on the site, and it is also my intention not to continue supporting the club any further".
22 Mar 01 - Firoz Kassam has stated that "There may not be a club this time next week". At the same time it was confirmed that there are no funds available for new signings before the transfer deadline.
Mr Kassam also said "I expect to be making a statement in the near future".
16th Mar 01 - FOUL issue Statement:
As speculation continues to mount and rumours and unsubstantiated statements fly around the internet it is important to remember that there are two very serious legal cases currently ongoing. FOUL understands the wishes of all United supporters to know and understand what is going on, but it must be borne in mind that various parties are trying to do a deal involving very sensitive financial and legal negotiations. Once a deal is either done or collapses then FOUL will make a FULL STATEMENT but not before.
Apologies to those who want to know the complete picture, but hopefully all will be revealed sooner rather than later and with the outcome that is the most positive for Oxford United FC. Meanwhile we urge all the parties involved to continue to use their best efforts to find a quick solution to the remaining legal problems which satisfies the legitimate interests of all concerned whilst ensuring the continued good health of OUFC.
2nd Mar 01 - Yesterdays court hearing finished with the judge announcing that he needs to "consider the evidence" and will reveal his decision next week.
1st Mar 01 - Les Wells is in the High Court today in relation to his claim that he has a right of way running across the stadium site.
22nd Feb 01 - Dawn Wyllie has been appointed as the new Ticket Office Supervisor, taking over from Darren Bowler, who leaves after the Millwall match.
15th Feb 01 - Brendon Cross has joined the OUFC board as an Associate Director. Mr Cross, an ex Abingdon Town player, said he was flattered to be invited on to the board, but also explained that he had wanted assurances from Mr Kassam regarding his future commitment to the club. Mr Cross owns and runs the Witney based company Spire Telecommunications, which also sponsors the clubs Centre of Excellence.
13th Feb 01 - Gary Hooper has been appointed Commercial Manager. Mr Hooper, who has played professional football for Luton, Gillingham and Cambridge United, will be promoting the business opportunities available at the new stadium.
31st Jan 01 - Joe Kinnear has left the club to look after his health and spend more time with his family.
9th Jan 01 - Bill Smith has been appointed as an Associate Director. Mr Smith will be at the club for two days a week and will be a point of contact for staff, in order to speed up the decision making process. Mr Smith confirmed "Whilst I will be in regular contact with Mr Kassam, I do have the power to make decisions without reference to him. Mr Smith, who has recently retired from National Westminster Bank, has know Mr Kassam for several years.
6th Dec 00 - The FOUL organised Open Meeting takes place this evening at 7:30. Firoz Kassam, Joe Kinnear and David Kemp will be present to answer supporters questions.
1st Nov 00 - At a press conference held at the Priory & ?, Firoz Kassam introduced the new Management team. These are, Joe Kinnear, who has been appointed Director of Football, David Kemp, who was with Joe at Wimbledon, and has been appointed Manager, together with Alan Mcleary as his assistant.
19th Oct 00 - Firoz Kassam announced today that work on the stadium would re-start before the end of the month. The building contract is with Birse Stadia and their representative, Martin Peat, said "We are due to take possession of the site later today and expect work to start in earnest on Monday 30th October and will be complete for the start of the 2001-2002 season.
8th Sep 00 - The detailed planning permission for the Leisure development at the New Stadium was granted today. The council voted 5 to 2 in favour. The two green party members voted against the plans.
