The bronze sculpture of an ox that is set to greet visitors to Oxford United's Kassam Stadium looks more like a raging bull ready for a fight with a Spanish matador, according to the Deputy Lord Mayor.

Littlemore councillor Gill Sanders said the proposed statue would give the wrong impression to fans because the beast has its head down and is rearing up in an aggressive fashion.

The club badge, which features on merchandise, shows a picture of an ox over a ford. But, confusingly, before changing its name to Rage On, the the club fanzine was called Raging Bull.

Mrs Sanders said: "It looks a very angry and aggressive animal and I would prefer something a bit gentler to be honest. The bull is staring down at the ground and looks like it's in the process of defending itself from attack or preparing to attack -- whether or not that is the right image for Oxford United I don't know.

"It looks as if the statue has been picked up from outside a bullring in Spain. I think it sends out the wrong impression, but everyone sees art in a different way."

Mrs Sanders is chairman of the council's south east area committee, which this week raised no initial objection to the proposed statue. However, consultation over the nature, design and siting of the statue is still taking place between the council and the club, and it may still require planning permission from the committee.

Oxford veterinary surgeon Andrew Bartholomew said: "I would say an ox and a bull could be the same -- a castrated bull is generally referred to as a steer.

"An ox is a member of the bovine contingent that includes cows and bulls and is a beast of burden -- used for pulling ploughs. An ox could include male of female whereas a bull refers solely to a male. Bulls are depicted with big, broad heads and horns, but most that I come across are calm creatures."

As part of a legal agreement in 1999, United was supposed to install a public work of art worth at least £10,000 on the stadium or leisure site within one year of the first match day. This means the statue should have gone up almost two years ago.

United chairman Firoz Kassam is out of the country and was unavailable for comment.