"Everyone is aware of the action taken by the stadium company, Firoka Ltd, at the Oxford United home game against Cambridge as they failed to service the club's food and beverages requirement.

"This affected supporters, sponsors and officials alike and was hugely embarrassing all round for everyone involved with Oxford, particularly with the live cameras there showing Oxford United finally break its live TV duck.

"We have been asked to comment on statements made by John Angus and Firoz Kassam on this matter. We would preface these by pointing out that we have to continue dealing with these people if the main objective is ever to be reached of acquiring the stadium and conference centre in order for Oxford United to be self-sufficient with its own incomes and without the current high rent.

"The true facts are the rent was not due at the time of Tuesday’s game. It is only due on September 29 which is quarter day.

"The stadium company insisted it was due on September 25 and — in breach of the licence — that we give them a postdated cheque for the full £117,103 by that afternoon of September 23, or they would withdraw services from the game.

"In response to the assertion bailiffs have been used every quarter to enforce the rent, the true facts are bailiffs have never been used to get the stadium rent throughout the 10 quarters since we took over the club.

"The shop rent of £7,931 was overlooked one quarter and the bailiffs arrived unannounced after only six days. That is the only occasion in our tenure when bailiffs have been used, as was disclosed at the recent AGM.

"Most landlords are reasonable with payments, particularly in difficult times. This seems not to be the case with Firoka.

"Finally, our view on postdated cheques is that these are unnecessary and dangerous in principle when one is continually struggling for revenues.

"This recent event is a clear example of the kind of unreasonableness, which has made dealing with the stadium company so difficult over the last two years.

"The terms of our licence agreement state very clearly they must provide services for games and they have breached those terms, perhaps unknowingly, but to the embarrassment of many thousands of Oxford supporters.

"We make no secret of the financial difficulties of running a football club with falling attendances and high stadium rent and other costs.

"Every month is a struggle and our investors and myself have already put in far more money than we wished.

"However, whilst a serious possibility, it would be so frustrating and annoying for the board and for all Oxford supporters for us to fail when we are closer than ever to a realistic partnership which, within 12 months, could return the stadium to Oxford United, allow Mr Kassam a reasonable financial exit and allow the club thereafter to fund itself within its own means from stadium revenues.

"We would ask Mr Kassam to help as much as possible in these mutually difficult times and would welcome other initiatives from fans, investors or business partners to help with our main objective being realistically achieved."