Kinnear ain't 'kin 'ere!

Joe Kinnear's first day on the job turned out to be something of an anti-climax as it was revealed on Radio Oxford that he won't actually be taking up his position at the club until tomorrow. He will arrive at the Manor prior to the Wigan game, meet up with Mike Ford and possibly even put in an appearance in the dressing room before taking his seat in the Directors Box. There is still much speculation as to Kinnear's exact role and how Denis Smith and Mickey Lewis will fit into the scheme of things. Even Mike Ford claims to have no idea how things are going to pan out, saying that he's just concentrating on getting the team ready for tomorrow and for Saturday if he's still the manager.

Speculation mounts that the player for whom United have put in an improved offer is Torquay striker Tony Bedeau, for whom the Gulls turned down a £200,000 bid from Oxford last month. The new offer is thought to be in the region of £300,000.