Oxford United chairman Firoz Kassam has joked that there are no more excuses for manager Mark Wright and the players now a gispy curse has been lifted from their ground.
His quip came after the Bishop of Oxford lifted the curse from the club's Kassam Stadium, at Minchery Farm.
It also follows a catalogue of misfortune for United, including losing five of the first nine games at their new home.
Mr Kassam, who invested £15m in developing the new 12,500-seat ground, said: "It was always the excuse that people used, that the place had a gipsy curse on it, so we thought we would get the Bishop in.
"Now that the curse has been lifted, it's no longer an excuse that can be used."
Wright, the former Liverpool and England defender, has had a tough time at Oxford since taking over the relegated team in the summer.
His squad has been plagued by injuries and suspensions and United are currently 18th out of 24 teams in Division 3.
The Bishop's spokesman the Rev Richard Thomas said the ceremony lat Friday did not constitute a full exorcism.
"He said a couple of prayers and part of that was to ward off evil," said Mr Thomas.
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