Friday

Paul Simpson scored Rochdale's second goal as they won 2-0 at Carlisle. This sends Dale second, above York who lost 2-1 at Bury. Bristol City, whom United face away in the League Cup on Tuesday, beat Northampton 3-0 to maintain their 100% home record (ulp). Meanwhile Scott Guyett scored an own goal as Chester beat Leigh RMI 2-1 to go top of the Conference.

Adding Adi, calling Carlin

Like buses, you don't get any new players for weeks and then two come along at once. As widely reported former Walsall defender Adi Viveash has signed for United on a one month loan, possibly with a view to something more permanent. His arrival is to provide cover and competition for the centre back berths, with currently Andy Crosby and Matt Bound the only recognised central defenders at the club. According to Ian Atkins Viveash also likes to push up more and pass the ball out of defence, which is a radical departure from what we're currently used to in Oxford.

Also arriving at the KasStad is Carlin Itonga, who played on trial for the reserves on Wednesday. Recently released by Arsenal, Itonga has had unsuccessful trials at Hull, Sheffield Wednesday, Bournemouth and a whole host of other clubs. Jan Molby reckoned he wasn't strong enough for Third Division football, so hopefully he is being groomed for when United are fighting to get out of the Conference! Itonga joins on a non-contract basis, which means he won't be getting paid whilst training (and possibly playing) for United, but which also means that if he's any good he can easily be poached by another club.

Other transfer news of interest to United fans include the move of former left back Simon Marsh to Tamworth, whilst former trainee Marc McGregor has signed for Weston-Super-Mare. Tomorrow's opponents Torquay have made Martin Gritton's loan move from Plymouth permanent – Gritton feature for United on trial in the first pre-season friendly at Oxford City, but didn't impress. Another former United triallist Christer Warren has been signed by Bristol Rovers as they desparately attempt to snap up all available deadwood in the hope that they might arrest the Gas's decline. Former QPR defender Karl Ready, who was lined up to feature for United's reserves on Wednesday but who failed to appear, has signed for Aldershot Town, where he will link up with Paul Moody. Finally, Triston Chambers, who played for Colchester's reserves against United on Wednesday, must have impressed someone as he has joined Harlow Town on loan.

Multiplicity of problems

It appears that Firoz Kassam is now going ahead with the original design for the multiplex and associated leisure complex, rather than face a barrage of long objections over amending it and using some of the old Minchery Farm site, sadly devastated by fire a few weeks ago. The current plans remain what they were a year or two ago.

Kassam also had some bad news last night at the Oxford City Council Planning Committee, who approved the building of the David Lloyd sports centre on the Oxford Business Park, against officer advice. This would conflict with Kassam's sports clinic plans. This goes against the terms of Policy Planning Guideline (PPG) 6 (sequential test), which was the basis of Nick Pentith's judicial review against the Council when objecting to the original decision to allow Kassam to build the multiplex. It is still possible for this decision to be “called in” by the Council should enough City Councillors so request, and the plans are still subject to approval by the Government Office of the South East so all is not lost yet.