We're back!

…and not a lot seems to have happened over the past three weeks considering.

Two new players have joined the club, both from Mark Wright's former club, Southport. They are both defenders and both 24 years old: Phil Bolland and Scott Guyett. United are also chasing Chester goalie Wayne Brown and Chesterfield striker David Reeves and possibly various others.

One current player, Matt Murphy (see the Rage Online Weakest Link poll results), looks like he is about to be on his way as, allegedly, his agent has been sending the club nasty letters and Murphy has apparently been in talks with Northampton, asking for “silly money”. Meanwhile Colchester have signalled their ambitions to remain in the Third Division by expressing an interest in the U's midfielder.

Work continues apace on the new stadium, with lots of blue seats fitted and internal stuff going on. The Oxford Mail has sponsored the East Stand (the one behind a goal) and season tickets are now on sale (although the Membership scheme has been discontinued).

United made over £10,000 when the various bits and bobs at the Manor were auctioned off and the club announced its new strip, which will apparently be available from July 1st, although as yet they have not agreed a shirt sponsorship deal.

United have been spared a trip to Bloomfield Road thanks to Blackpool's defeat of Orient in the Division Three play-off final, whilst Reading laughably lost to Ray Graydon's Walsall in the Division Two final despite being ahead. Shame.

Some bookies have made Oxford third favourites, at 9-1, to go up next season, behind Bristol Rovers and Luton. This is a view shared by 35% of Rage Online readers, of whom 6% reckon the U's are championship material, with a further 31% declaring United will go up via the play-offs. 6% think United will just miss out whilst 16% believe that a season of mid-table mediocrity awaits. A mere 6% are pessimistic and expect a season of struggle, of whom 2% actually predict a relegation battle, although no-one is pessimistic enough to prophecy an actual demotion to the Conference.