MICKEY Lewis, who has been a player and coach at Oxford United for 12 years, has been sacked.

Lewis, nicknamed 'Mad Dog' for his aggressive midfield play, had been without a proper contract at the Manor.

There was speculation about what role he would play when David Kemp and Alan McLeary took charge of the team two weeks ago.

Following the sacking of Malcolm Shotton last November, Lewis took charge of the team but results did not improve and he was replaced by Denis Smith, who managed to keep United in Division 2.

Lewis will continue playing for Banbury United, and he could interest Oxford City, who are looking for a No 2.

Meanwhile, Joey Beauchamp, scorer of a wonder goal as United earned their first away league win of the season at Swansea seven days ago, believes the team are now well equipped to get the result they are looking for in today's FA Cup first-round tie at Macclesfield. "The FA Cup gives us a bit of relief from the league and we've got a lot of confidence from the week before," he said.

"The whole set-up is so much better now, there's more discipline and everything is more professional.

"Training has been harder, and longer, but the players feel fitter and I think we're better equipped to win games."

Manager David Kemp is expected to make just one enforced change for today's game, replacing on-loan Keith Andrews, who Wolves do not want Cup-tied, with another midfielder. That seems most likely to be Simon Weatherstone, Dean Whitehead or Paul Powell.

There will be FA Cup debuts for Oxford for six players Richard Knight, John Robertson, Jon Richardson, Andy Linighan, Keith Brown and Phil Gray, an indication of the turn-around in players there has been at the Manor Ground in the past nine months.

Although Macclesfield lie mid-table in the third division, United are well aware of what a banana-skin this fixture can be potentially, and most of the camp feel that a draw would be a good result

The Silkmen look set to be without injured defender Rae Ingram and suspended goalkeeper Tony Bullock, who is replaced by Lee Martin.

THE FA Cup second round draw is live on Sky Sports 1 and Talk Sport at 5.35pm tonight.