Oxford United have confirmed that manager Des Buckingham has left the club just four months into their Championship return.

Buckingham, who was born in the city and played for the U’s as a youth player, was headhunted from Mumbai City in 2023, and he managed in his first season at the Kassam Stadium to guide Oxford into the second tier of English football via the League One play-off final at Wembley back in May against Bolton Wanderers.

However, after a positive start to Championship life, United have lost seven of their last nine league encounters, and Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at home to Sheffield Wednesday has proved to be Buckingham’s last in the dugout.

The Telegraph’s John Percy has revealed that the Oxford board have sacked Buckingham, and the search is now underway for his successor.

Oxford United part company with Des Buckingham after poor run of form

Having arrived in November 2023 to replace Bristol City-bound Liam Manning, Buckingham masterminded Oxford’s return to the Championship after 25 years away, when they dropped down to the third tier in 1999.

Buckingham had never managed in England prior to his appointment but had won the Indian Super League with Mumbai just a few months prior, and his return to Oxford – whilst unproven on British shores – was greeted with optimism.

Third in League One when Buckingham took charge, Oxford eventually finished fifth in the third tier standings before brushing Peterborough United aside in the play-off semi-finals, before a Josh Murphy brace at Wembley secured promotion.

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After 10 Championship games, United were still sitting in 11th position in the table, with three wins, four draws and three defeats to their name – victory has been tasted though in the league just once since mid-September, and that came last month in a win over struggling Hull City.

Seven defeats from their last nine Championship matches though has seen the U’s drop down to 20th in the table and has seemingly led to the exit of Buckingham, who has not been afforded the time to build a squad fit for the rigours of the second tier.

Des Buckingham decision seems harsh from Oxford United

To give Buckingham just over a year in the job, especially after winning promotion from League One, seems pretty ludicrous from Oxford’s board.

Whilst it’s true that their form in the last few weeks hasn’t been good, with seven defeats from their last nine outings bringing them crashing back down to earth, Oxford will have a very small budget compared to most of the Championship, and finishing in 21st would be classed as a good achievement.

Of course, in hindsight we do not know where the U’s will end up or where they would end up if Buckingham were to have remained in his post – the trajectory was not promising at all, but having headhunted him in the first place from India, Oxford should have given the 39-year-old more time to turn things around.

It will take a hairraising appointment now to get Oxford fans back onside, as it certainly doesn’t appear to be a popular one.