DES Buckingham says he was committed to Mumbai City following links with a return to English football earlier this season.

The 38-year-old was appointed Oxford United head coach on Thursday, marking his return to the UK after a globetrotting adventure which has taken in New Zealand, Australia and India.

Buckingham’s stock grew at his most recent side, Mumbai City, where he won the Indian Super League title last season.

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His talent and reputation saw him linked with managerial vacancies in Sky Bet League One, with Charlton Athletic rumoured to be interested in September, while more recently, Lincoln City were said to be considering Buckingham.

There was even a suggestion in the summer that Scottish giants Celtic were looking at Buckingham after Ange Postecoglou took over at Tottenham Hotspur.

Asked about the links with previous roles, Buckingham told this newspaper: “You have to do a good job in the job you’re in, and if you do that, you attract attention from different areas.

“There’s certainly been different spaces over the last nine months, but we had a project in Mumbai and I was committed to that project.

“The most important thing now is this for me was an excellent time and an excellent fit, and it’s a project at my home club, and one I’m extremely looking forward to and I can’t wait to get going.”