Thomas accentuates the positive

While the U’s chairman admits that the revival is down to a number of factors, the way fans are now thinking has been one big factor.

“I am a very positive person and always try and find the positive in situations,” he said.

“I generally feel that good things will happen if you think that way, so I have addressed this within the football club.

“We have to look at what is good about us as a football club and keep working everyday to bring that out.

“And there is plenty that is good too.

“What we have made sure is that we keep our feet on the ground no matter what happens.

“I think the fans recognise this and have bought into this too.

“We will not get carried away with ourselves and we certainly will never be ‘big time’.

He added: “I don’t think we need to make the fans understand what happens behind the scenes.

“I firmly feel that what the majority of the fans want is a successful product on the pitch and I am fine with that.

“I have to make sure I remind the staff all the time that what we do behind the scenes has an impact on the pitch and to the business.

“Sometimes when you are doing well, the behind the scenes staff get forgotten about and I have to make sure that doesn’t happen as they are a huge part of the success.

“It has to be a team effort on and off the pitch and we are seeing some of the fruits of our hard work now.

“I read a good article following the Mansfield defeat and was pleased with one part of the report which stated ‘Oxford's collective post-match demean-our suggests there is an underlying confidence’.

“I think that sums us up very well, in that we have a collective strength about us, but we will show that through our performances rather than shout it from the roof tops.”

“We do have a confidence and that is great, but I think we have that because we work hard every day, will continue to do so and are working together.

“This spirit of togetherness throughout the club will make us stronger.”