Fresh doubts surround the Argentine management's future at Oxford United after Horacio Rodriguez was absent again from yesterday's match against Leyton Orient at the Kassam Stadium.

It was the second successive game that head coach Rodriguez has missed. He was not at the League Two fixture at Scunthorpe on Good Friday either.

Manager Ramon Diaz has also been away over Easter, but that is not unusual because he has not been present at most of the away games since his appointment.

United's players admit they are frustrated by the situation and are asking to be told what is happening. Their futures remain unclear while the management's is uncert- ain.

Striker Steve Basham, who scored United's first goal, said after the match: "Somebody needs to step up and talk and tell us what's happening.

"It's unsettling, but we have to get on with it."

Coach Raul Marcovic was also reported to be missing.

One club insider said Rodriguez has had to return to Argentina for family reasons, but would be back this week.

It has emerged that he has not been in Oxford for nearly a week and took just one training session at the start of last week.

Speculation has been rife that, with the play-offs now out of reach, the seven-strong team brought in by chairman Firoz Kassam last December will not remain next season.

Diaz and his assistant, Jean Marc Goiran, and Kassam were said to be still in talks last week.

But Kassam chose not to write his normal programme notes for the Leyton Orient game yesterday, which finished as a 2-2 draw.

Coach David Oldfield was in charge of the team in the dug-out, as he was at Glanford Park, but he declined to comment on the management situation.

It's not clear whether even he knows whether the Argentines are staying.

"It's a complicated situation, but I can't really say anything," he stated.

"I was at the front (in the dug-out area) because I speak English."

The Easter Monday match was watched by a pitiful Bank Holiday crowd of just 5,320, which illustrated that a lot of supporters have become disillusioned with events and the way the U's play-off hopes have disapp- eared.

The 2-2 draw summed up United's season with some bright attacking play and good goals rendered immaterial because of sloppy goals conceded.

Lee Steele, returning to his former club, scored after just 12 seconds following a blunder by centre half Leo Roget.

It was the fastest goal in Orient's history.

Their manager, Martin Ling, said: "Lee promised me a goal, but I didn't expect it that quickly!

"But I thought he was outstanding today."

Even more galling for United fans was the knowledge that the Londoners had fielded one of their youngest ever sides, with six scholars in their squad.

Among those axed from the party that travelled to Oxford was former U's striker Andy Scott.

Ling said: "One thing you can guarantee from young players is that they will work hard and they've got energy.

"I thought the point was thoroughly deserved and it was Oxford, rather than us, who were hanging on at the end.

"There was a statement made by me as the manager that could have backfired and I'm pleased that it didn't.

"Our five youngsters didn't crumble, even when they went behind. They answered every question that was put before them today."

But in the Oxford camp, as usual, there were more questions than answers.

And Oldfield was frustrated that the team once again failed to hold onto a lead, after Basham's goal and then another from Tommy Mooney had put them 2-1 up in the second half.

"The start was ridiculous but we battled back well to get the lead," he said.

"The lads worked hard - there were a few struggling and carrying knocks.

"But it's just disappointing after such a good performance at Scunthorpe on Friday to not manage to hold onto the lead again.

"We just need a bit more about us to hang onto leads and to keep our concentration.

"The lads know we should have won again today."

Asked about the players' future, Oldfield relied: "Everybody's future is in doubt, sorry, I mean at stake, but everybody's here together and we will all pull together."

His slip of the tongue seemed like a Freudian slip. Everybody's future is in doubt.

Said Basham: "It looks like the play-offs are over for us, but we're still going to give everything when we play every game and try to take something into next season.

"You've got to try to forget about the off-the-field things if you can, even though it's not easy sometimes."