BBC Oxford understand fellow Division Four outfit Portsmouth have made an approach for Oxford United manager Chris Wilder. Pompey, who lie 17th in the league table, are without a manager after sacking Guy Whittingham on Monday following a run of three consecutive defeats.

In contrast, Wilder’s Yellows sit top of the table on 34 points, having won 116 games of his 257 incharge since taking over at the Kassam Stadium back in December 2008. The Us boss signed a new one-year deal with the club back in April, so it is understood the south-coast side would have to pay a compensation fee if they were to appoint him as their new manager.

But United chairman Ian Lenagan isn’t concerned about where Wilder’s liabilities lie: “The fact that one club, who are a failing club, comes in for him. That tells you he is a good manager.

“Chris Wilder has showed his commitment to Oxford over five years. Am I concerned about Portsmouth? I am not concerned about Portsmouth at all. I think anyone would be interested in Chris Wilder. Who wouldn’t be interested in a manager who is top of the league?

“This is a man who has been castigated as not being good enough for Oxford United. I think it is delightful that a club wants Chris Wilder. I take great delight in that fact. I wouldn’t want him to go, he has a contract with us.”

Meanwhile Portsmouth’s chief executive Mark Catlin denied the surrounding speculation: “We don’t want to comment on any manager, or a manager who is at another club.

“We are going through a process, we have approached a number of clubs to see if they would be willing to allow us to talk to their manager. Whatever we do, we want to do it via the correct and appropriate channels.”