Manager Chris Wilder says he is more determined than ever to get Oxford United out of the Blue Square Premier, which he describes as a “poxy league”.
The U’s face a fourth season in non-League football after their valiant, but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to reach the play-offs.
And, as the repercussions of Sunday’s pitch invasion are considered internally by club officials, Wilder says his concern is how to make sure 2009-10 is their last campaign in a league whose set-up and administration, he believes, are years behind the times.
“Other matters I have to leave to other people,” he said. “I’ve got to make sure it’s right on the pitch and I will leave no stone unturned in my quest to get this club out of the Conference.
“There’s a lot of things about this league that are outdated – personnel and rules – and I think the league’s got to have a look at itself. And boy, do I want to get out of it as quick as possible.
“Everybody in this football club wants to get out of this league and never come back!
“To do that, we’ve got to be strong.
“We’ve got to have a strong squad, we’ve got to invest in the summer in terms of getting players and we need to put ourselves in a position not where we’re relying on other teams dropping points.
“We must take it out of people’s hands by producing a winning, consistent performing team here at the Kassam, strong away from home, and we get out of this poxy league.”
Wilder says Sunday’s painful 2-1 defeat at home to Northwich may be a blessing in disguise.
As is often the case, managers learn more about their players through defeats than victories, and although overall the bulk of them have performed magnificently throughout the past four months, the last-day let-down confirmed one or two doubts in his mind.
He will now begin the task of sorting out who he wants to keep, who might be offered a deal for next season but on reduced money, and who will be shown the door.
He will speak to all the players individually, he says.
“Maybe if we’d won and the other results still hadn’t gone our way, it would have camouflaged certain things,” he reflected after the match.
“Today has really made my mind up about certain players. I had a lot of decisions that were already made. There were one or two that were borderline cases.
“The players didn’t perform or have enough energy. We know we have a bit of quality, but mentally we looked shot. When the big game arrived and 10,000 people came along, we haven’t turned up.
“I want players who, when big teams come to town, we turn them over, or when big crowds turn up, we produce a performance.”
And planning for next season has already begun.
“Players that are stopping will be given a programme to adhere to,” he added.
“They need to be right, need to be working on their strengths, and on their weaknesses as well.”
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