SPORTS minister Tony Banks and the FA are being urged to probe the problems being faced by Oxford United.

The call by Tory county councillor Steve Hayward follows continued speculation about the club's future.

In a motion presented to Oxfordshire County Council, Cllr Hayward urged the council to "deplore" the inaction of the Football Association and Sports Minister over the matter.

He also demanded that Oxfordshire's chief executive John Harwood should write to the chief executive of the FA and to Tony Banks, calling for an immediate investigation into the problems being faced by Oxford United, with a view to ensuring the survival of professional football in Oxfordshire.

The item was referred to the county's cultural services committee by fellow members.

After the meeting, Cllr Hayward said: "It's a concern that the FA tends to say 'it's nothing to do with us, it's a commercial enterprise.'

"My view is that it's important to the community and to sport in general. It's particularly important to Oxford which does not have a high profile in sport."

Story date: Wednesday 10 February

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