Oxford United fans will be able to travel free to next Saturday's vital away game at Port Vale - thanks to your Oxford Mail.

We have got together with the club's new owner Firoz Kassam, BBC Thames Valley and The London Road Club to subsidise the supporters' club coaches for this crucial Division 1 basement battle.

Instead of the normal £7 or £8 it would cost to travel on the coach to the ground at Burslem, near Stoke-on-Trent, fans will be able to go for nothing.

It's a game that could decide United's fate this season - whether they will still be playing in Division 1 or will be relegated to Division 2 - and the more support the U's have at Vale Park, the better are the chances for Malcolm Shotton's team.

Shotton said: "It's great news and a tremendous gesture from all concerned.

"I think the support we've had this season has been magnificent and the more fans we get at Port Vale, and the more vocal they are, the more it should help the lads."

The idea came originally from supporter Daniel Curtis, editor of the fanzine Yellow Fever.

The London Road Club took nine coaches to Chelsea on February 3 for the FA Cup fourth round replay and the target will be to beat that figure. Said Oxford United ticket office supervisor Darren Bowler: "We were possibly looking at three or four coaches for Port Vale and now with this, I've already booked up ten with the possibility of others and hopefully we'll take as many fans away as possible."

How it works:

London Road Club members can now obtain a free coach ticket to Vale Park.

Non-members can take part in this offer and obtain a free coach ticket to Vale Park at the reduced membership cost of £3 for adults and £2 for under 16s.

Supporters are advised to book no later than Wednesday, April 14 to guarantee a ticket.

Any members who have already paid up for a coach ticket can get a refund by going to United's ticket office.

Meanwhile, manager Malcolm Shotton says his planned meeting with Kassam has been put off until next week. But, in any case, it's unlikely to be before the end of the season before it's known which out-of-contract players will receive new offers.

There are eight professionals at the Manor whose contracts run out in June, including Matt Murphy, Nicky Banger, Christophe Remy and Brian Wilsterman.

Story date: Saturday 10 April

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