Sources: Des Buckingham in frame for Oxford United job
Former Oxford United coach Des Buckingham is a top contender to replace Karl Robinson as manager at the Kassam Stadium, sources have told Football Insider.
The League One side confirmed the sacking of the 42-year-old on Sunday (26 February) after picking up just one point from their last eight games.
It is understood that 38-year-old Buckingham, who was part of Chris Wilder’s coaching staff at Oxford, is a leading contender to succeed Robinson following his success coaching within the City Football Group.
The Oxford-born boss has just won the Indian Super League League Winners’ Shield with Mumbai City, and is now preparing his side for the ISL play-offs.
He joined the Indian outfit in October 2021, having won the A-League grand final with Melbourne City as assistant manager during the 2020 campaign.
Buckingham is highly regarded within coaching circles and he has admirers within the corridors of power at Oxford due to his previous association with the club.
The former goalkeeper started his professional coaching career with the U’s and became part of the first-team setup at the start of the 2013-14 season.
However, he only spent part of the campaign working alongside then-manager Wilder before taking a position as football development manager with the New Zealand FA.
Buckingham then joined Wellington Phoenix in 2015, which led to him becoming assistant manager and then first-team boss in 2017.
He is now in the running to return to Oxford, following the club’s struggles in League One.
Robinson was sacked following a 3-0 defeat to Bristol City on Saturday (25 February).
Oxford currently sit 17th in the third-tire table, five points off the relegation zone.
In other news, several League One sides are racing to sign a Newcastle United first-teamer.