Full steam ahead

As hoped and anticipated the judicial review was withdrawn this morning to leave no further forseeable obstacles in the way of completion for the new stadium. Les Wells was today packing up his bags, but he will be back to collect the bricks of the demolished Minchery Farm buildings as agreed in the deal between him, Firoz Kassam and Oxford City Council.

Meanwhile Rage Online can confirm that, contrary to rumours even more scurrilous than we are wont to print, there is no rugby club, of either discipline, lined up to play at Minchery Farm next season. Due to all the difficulties surrounding the completion of the project there has been no time to line up any potential sharers and although talks were held with one Union club Oxford United will be the only team playing up the Farm next season.

Cherry picking tomorrow

United travel to Dean Court for their rearranged fixture with Bournemouth tomorrow almost certainly without the inspirational Manny Omoyinmi, who was injured at Northampton on Saturday. It is almost certain that his place will be taken by Phil Gray, who came on for him at Sixfields, but if manager David Kemp has any sense whatsoever he will not make any further changes to what has become United's most successful line-up this season (which admittedly isn't saying much) although Dean Whitehead has now served his three match suspension and could return to the squad. This is United's third successive away game, as a result of postponements over the last couple of months but, contrary to earlier misguided reports on this here web site whatever happens Oxford can't quite be relegated until Saturday because some of the other teams in contention for relegation aren't playing tomorrow. In line with recent predictions, and notwithstanding United's recent upturn in form, Rage Online predicts a 2-0 defeat for the U's, probably inflicted by Jermaine Defoe.