Speculation is rife that Firoz Kassam is moving closer to handing control of Oxford United to their Argentine management team.

The U's chairman revealed to the Oxford Mail last week that he did know whether the club could afford to keep manager Ramon Diaz and his six-strong backroom staff.

Kassam said that talks would take place, but I understand that over the course of the last seven days, these have already reached an advanced stage - a fact backed up by a statement released by United supporters' group OxVox yesterday.

Rumours suggest that the multi-millionaire has lined up the club's annual meeting on Friday, March 18, as a possible date to reveal his plan to shareholders.

It is not clear how the deal would work, but it seems certain that Diaz and his assistant, Jean Marc Goiran, would be put in charge of the club, to allow Kassam to concentrate on his other ven- tures.

Kassam would not be drawn on the speculation, but did not deny something was in the pipeline.

"There has been nothing agreed at the moment, and so I would not want to speculate," he said.

When asked whether talks with Diaz & Co could involve more than a managerial contract extension, Kassam replied: "We have been in talks, and are doing everything we can to keep the current team in place.

"But again, nothing has been agreed yet and I don't speculate, so we will have to see what happens."

Should Kassam hand over the reigns, it would be a move welcomed by OxVox.

The group have been in discussions with Kassam and Diaz about trying to arrange a fans' forum at the club, and the evening of March 18 looks favourite for that to happen, although it is only a provisional date.

"Bulletins indicate that negotiations are reaching an advanced stage, to turn what was originally a short-term appointment into a longer term one," the statement released by the group read.

"Having met Ramon Diaz and members of his team, it is clear that they have positive ideas. Some of these are for the long-term, with the clear aim of growing the club to enable it to fulfil its potential.

"Our view, is that the new team, with its wealth of knowledge, experience and ability, offer a good opportunity for Oxford United to rebuild and re-establish itself as successful Football League outfit."

OxVox chairman Chris Davies added last night: "Our opinion has always been that we would welcome more football-orientated people at the club.

"It is important that Oxford United supporters have the opportunity to question and listen to the management team and the chairman, which is why we are so keen for a forum to take place."

Davies denied that the date had been agreed to give a chance for United supporters to meet their new owners.

"March 18 was suggested as a provisional date because we knew that the chairman would be in the country.

"Any opportunites for the supporters to meet the chairman are hugely popular, and we feel that if they could meet the Argentine's at the same time, it was be terrific to hear and question them first hand.

"Whether something had happened before that evening or not, I would hope that there would be a good attendance for a forum."