Another momentous week in Oxford United’s recent history passes. On Monday, timed neatly to coincide with the shareholders’ Annual General Meeting, Malcolm Shotton and Mark Harrison announce their joint resignations. Then there was the meeting itself. Then on Tuesday the High Court judge declares that Nick Pentith’s and British Rail Property Board’s application to seek a Judicial Review over the granting of planning permission for the multiplex cinema has been turned down. Then Mickey Lewis is appointed as caretaker manager before, climactically, United record their first win in six attempts, coming from behind to fortuitously beat mid-table Conference outfit Morecambe with just five minutes remaining.

Since Shotton’s resignation there has been widespread speculation concerning his likely successor, with local bookies making former Oxford centre-back Mark Wright favourite at first, although Mickey Lewis soon caught up to become joint favourite. Many other names have been connected with the vacancy; some, like Jimmy Smith and Nigel Spackman, purely speculatively whilst others, like Ray Houghton, Ray Clemence, Richard Hill, Colin Todd, Mark Wright, Mickey Lewis and (ulp!) Denis Smith have actually declared their interest in the post. Presumably Firoz Kassam will take advice from Fenton Higgins and others (?) before reaching a decision – there might even be an interview process. If he were to consult with the wise heads here at Rage Online he would be advised to choose someone with some managerial experience, preferably with a club with a low budget to which he has brought some relative success. He should avoid appointing someone who might be regarded by United supporters as a past hero (once bitten twice shy), so head should rule over heart. The appointee must be someone who the players can respect, rather than fear, but must in turn show that he respects the players. We are not going to suggest any names – that is for the board to decide (the fans suggested Shotton’s name with, ultimately, disappointing results) – but we would seriously recommend that the criteria we have outlined be followed (thus eliminating most of the candidates already mentioned). Kassam has explicitly stated in a television interview that money would be made available for whoever becomes the new United manager, so let’s hope that he chooses someone who can spend it wisely.

There has also been much speculation about the manner of Shotton’s departure. We have heard rumours, from reasonably reliable sources, that Mr Kassam had been collecting evidence to enable him to release Shotton without having to recompense him for breaking his contract (which had over one and a half years to run). This evidence would presumably include Shotton’s drunken binges, where he could be heard badmouthing his players in public; the alleged punchups with certain members of his squad, including the now departed Phil Gilchrist; the appalling public relations he had with the local media, especially the slagging off he gave to certain of his squad members over the airwaves; and, arguably most importantly, Shotton’s private support for the Gang of Four who tried to oust Kassam shortly after he bought Robin Herd’s shares. Taken with the club’s current abysmal run in the league and it was really only a question of when Kassam would act rather than if he would, and he timed it very neatly in order to be able to open the AGM with his breathtaking announcement. This meant that a lot of the decisions made at the AGM went largely uncommented on, people’s focus being elsewhere, but there were two or three issues worthy of note.

The decision was taken that the current structure of the board should be ratified (ie Chairman Firoz Kassam, plus Fenton Higgins and Ashwini Tawakley). This means that the minority shareholders now formally have no representative (formerly Geoff Coppock’s role). Whilst Coppock himself didn’t really achieve much in his time on the board (other than to reassure Keith Cox that his decisions were wonderful) it could be argued that this was the fault of the individual and that the shareholders couldn’t be held responsible for that. Rage Online doesn’t have a view on this, not being shareholders, and if communications between the board and the fans are both open and mutual then the disappearance of this post shouldn’t necessarily prove detrimental (providing that all fans have the ear of the board and not just a select few).

Another major talking point coming from the AGM was the announcement that corners were being cut in order to make the construction of the new stadium affordable. It wasn’t specified what these savings were to be, and presumably the construction will still have to comply with all the statutory building regulations (which apparently has scuppered one plan which was to have the car park gravel rather than tarmac). This has led to the unfortunate scenario of rumour and gossip replacing informed debate: will there be fewer seats than originally planned? Will the construction materials be cheaper and therefore have a shorter lifespan? Will some of the other proposed facilities be delayed, or even cut totally, in order to come in on cost? Don’t ask us, we don’t know.

A third major concern which the AGM threw up was the revelation that Mr Kassam is having contractual difficulties with Taylor Woodrow. It is thought that these centre around the sale of the Manor rather than the contracts for the construction of Minchery Farm, but it is to be seriously hoped that this does not prove a major stumbling block in the timetable to get the stadium completed on time. Whilst one has to assume that any contractual difficulties can be solved through mutual understanding, there is the added complication that Mr Kassam’s CVA, which has yet to be ratified being less than six months since it was agreed, depends on Taylor Woodrow’s complicity for it to work and, without the CVA, Kassam’s whole house of cards could come tumbling down. We understand that, provided construction has commenced at Minchery and there is a definite end date to the work, the Football Licensing Authority is happy for United to continue playing at the Manor for at least part of next season. However the logistical problems which would arise by having a mid-season move lead us to believe that a close-season completion date for the ground is essential.