Chris Wilder joined Oxford United in December 2008, replacing Darren Patterson, with the club 13th in the Blue Square (Conference) Premier.

The former Halifax Town boss lost his first game in charge, going down 2-1 away to Salisbury City on Boxing Day, but after a 5-1 win against Ebbsfleet United two days later, the campaign turned.

The U’s won 16 of their final 22 league games to rejuvenate the campaign, only narrowly missing out on the play-offs.

The momentum was continued the following season and the team made an outstanding start – winning eight and drawing two of their first ten games to open up a seven-point lead.

Although a slump in form allowed Stevenage to take the league title, the U’s sealed promotion via the play-offs, beating York City 3-1 at Wembley.

Wilder consolidated the club’s position in League Two after an absence of four years, leading them to a 12th place finish in 2010/11.

Another step forward was made in the following campaign. As well as a double over rivals Swindon Town, United spent the majority of the campaign in the play-off places.

But the club’s promotion hopes were ruined by a collapse during the run-in, when a squad depleted by injury picked up just three points from the final seven games to finish ninth and miss out on the play-offs by four points.

Despite still missing several key players to injury, the team bounced back from the disappointment to start this season with a bang.

After beating League One side Bournemouth on penalties in the Capital One Cup, three successive victories took the U’s top of League Two – their highest position since January 2004.

Despite another win against Swindon, this time in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, they plummeted down the table following six straight defeats.

The U’s stayed in the bottom half until New Year’s Day, but then went on a four-game winning run, including a 2-1 triumph at Bradford City.

However, their up-and-down season continued – one point in five matches followed by five wins in seven.

But their fate was finally sealed last week when Bradford’s win over Burton ensured United would face another season in League Two.