THE dramatic events of last week could emerge as a critical period in Oxford United's history - a time when turmoil turns to triumph and hopes become fulfilled.

Cash-strapped United were thrown a lifeline by a man in a position to mirror what Reading have achieved at the Madejski Stadium.

The resignation of managing director Keith Cox on the eve of the U's FA Cup replay against Chelsea was not a reason for mourning. Indeed, United fans wore smiles long before their team performed so well at Stamford Bridge. The reasons? Cox was out and a man with the potential to revive United - 43-year-old hotelier Firoz Kassam - had stepped in.

Mr Kassam, who left Tanzania and arrived in Britain when he was 19, has put up £1m to keep United afloat until March 31 when he intends to go ahead and buy the club outright.

Before that, Mr Kassam will take a careful look at United's books and aim to reach some sort of agreement with Oxford City Council on the extension of the land covered by the lease at Minchery Farm, where the new stadium is in a state of limbo. The Madejski Stadium link is an example of what could happen at Minchery Farm. My recent comment on what a masterpiece the Reading complex is, and how the entire project incorporates other sports facilities and an hotel, could lead Oxford fans to break out in a flush of optimism!

Mr Kassam owns two Holiday Inn hotels in London, and the reason he wants to buy two pieces of land adjoining the stadium at Minchery Farm makes clear his intention to build a multiplex cinema and a hotel there.

That makes sound sense. If the Minchery Farm project is to be revived - and if United are to survive as a Football League club - the new regime needs to be given every encouragement . . . which means the city council must be much more supportive than it has been up to now.

AFTER the replay at Chelsea, United had a taste of what they might expect if the new stadium deal goes ahead - Mr Kassam invited the players and management back to his hotel for a drink!

DO the people at Radio 5 Live know something the rest of us don't? Announcing the result of the Cup replay, they referred to 'Second Division' Oxford United.

I SHED no tears for Glenn Hoddle. As great a player as he undoubtedly was, and as good a club manager as he proved at Swindon Town, he became a liability as manager of England.

In my view there has been good reason to boot him out on more than one occasion in the past. How he survived indifference over the emerging talent of Michael Owen, his weird belief in Eileen Drewery, and the revelations in his tell-all World Cup Diaries last summer, I'll never understand.

Good riddance Glenn. Now, the FA must change their own bad habit - being indecisive - and persuade Kevin Keegan he's the best man for the job.

CAME across a great read the other day - Yellow Fever, the Very Irreverent fanzine for Oxford United. It contains lots of those things most sportwriters would like to say, but libel laws forbid!

I recommend Yellow Fever as well worth a pound of your money (next issue due in April), but readers might like to assess the value of this column too - yours, along with the whole week's Witney and district news, for a mere 27p!

WALES contributed to a glum weekend in the Wynne-Jones household as their Five Nations rugby campaign began with defeat by, of all people, the Scots.

Enough said!

Story date: Thursday 11 February

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.