When a team has won only once in 15 games it might seem strange to talk about the outright shock that cascaded through Oxfordshire within moments of this sacking news breaking.

It is not about Des Buckingham being a local guy – or even the guy that took Oxford into the Championship for the first time in 25 years.

I did a phone-in and, of the 100 or so calls, text messages and social media comments after Oxford were beaten at home by Sheffield Wednesday, a grand total of one called for a change of manager.

Relegation always was, and remains, a possibility for a club that almost surprised itself by winning the League One play-offs following a late charge last season.

My initial thought is the fans have been happy being in the Championship – but the club clearly isn’t.