Oxford United chairman Firoz Kassam answered the fans' prayers yesterday when he announced that Joe Kinnear would be joining the club on a full-time basis.

The former Wimbledon manager had originally been employed as a consultant, but after discussions, the 52-year-old agreed to become the club's director of football.

David Kemp, assistant to Kinnear at Wimbledon, was unveiled as the new manager, to be assisted by Alan McLeary, the former Millwall joint manager.

Kinnear will have overall responsibility for the football side, with Kemp and McLeary taking training and picking the team.

The trio will work closely together with just one message from the chairman: "Keep us up."

With work on the half-built stadium at Minchery Farm resuming this week, Kassam turned his attention to United's alarming start to the season, which has seen them gain only five points after 16 matches.

And he says the fact that Kinnear has put his reputation on the line to join Oxford, gives him a good feeling for the future.

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