Current Staff New Head of Athletic Performance

[CaptainOx]

Harry Routledge is moving on (don't know if he is 'replaced' or was always going elsewhere)

New man is Luke Taylor who has personal and family ties to the club, has worked for OUFC previously as well as with Des with New Zealand.

Luke Taylor Joins Oxford United | Oxford United Football Club

Oxford United are delighted to announce the appointment of Luke Taylor as the club’s new Head of Athletic Performance.

www.oufc.co.uk

 

[BillyTurleys CurlyWurly]

Finally a bit of support for Des & someone he’s worked with previously.

 

[CaptainOx]

Finally a bit of support for Des & someone he’s worked with previously.

What to you mean by finally?

There has been someone in this role the whole time Des has been at the club.
Routledge has only gone within the last week.

 

[BillyTurleys CurlyWurly]

What to you mean by finally?

There has been someone in this role the whole time Des has been at the club.
Routledge has only gone within the last week.

I’m pretty sure it’s been longer than that

 

[CaptainOx]

I’m pretty sure it’s been longer than that

Fair enough, I thought I had seen him on the touchline/pitch in recent weeks, but could have been someone else.

 

[BillyTurleys CurlyWurly]

Fair enough, I thought I had seen him on the touchline/pitch in recent weeks, but could have been someone else.

Believe he left at the back end of Nov, early Dec.

I’m sure @RyanioBirdio confirmed this on another thread.

 

[Wallop]

Harry Routledge is moving on (don't know if he is 'replaced' or was always going elsewhere)

New man is Luke Taylor who has personal and family ties to the club, has worked for OUFC previously as well as with Des with New Zealand.

Luke Taylor Joins Oxford United | Oxford United Football Club

Oxford United are delighted to announce the appointment of Luke Taylor as the club’s new Head of Athletic Performance.

www.oufc.co.uk

He didn’t leave of his own accord.

 

[Foley]

He didn’t leave of his own accord.

That seems to suggest that Des is getting his own men in, which is what a lot on here have been calling for.

 

[Osei Yaw]

Good news, he has a good CV and is clearly another Oxford lad. It also knocks the 'Des has no contacts' twaddle on the head.

He's been here for the last couple of weeks, but it's nice there are some reinforcements finally arriving.

Now for an assistant manager.

 

[Carpy]

It also knocks the 'Des has no contacts' twaddle on the head.

I don't want him to have TOO many contacts, Karl Robinsons phonebook was infamous in the end

 

[Wandering Yellow]

I don't want him to have TOO many contacts, Karl Robinsons phonebook was infamous in the end

I want the details of how Yoav Sade got to stay for so long.

 

[Bornyellow]

Good to see Des get his own man in, he needs all the help he can get atm. Any shed anymore light on Harry Routledge leaving?

 

[RyanioBirdio]

Good to see Des get his own man in, he needs all the help he can get atm. Any shed anymore light on Harry Routledge leaving?

There was an internal review of why players were getting injured so often, and in particular why some players were getting injured so soon after supposedly recovering from injury, in late November / early December.

 

[Morris Oxford]

There was an internal review of why players were getting injured so often, and in particular why some players were getting injured so soon after supposedly recovering from injury, in late November / early December.

Interesting. I wonder if the brief return of Browne and Edwards from injuries triggered this review.

If Buckingham has instigated this review so soon after becoming manager, then fair play to him for identifying an important area within the club that needed prompt action.

 

[Osei Yaw]

If Routledge left in early December at the latest, then that's quite a few games we've had without someone doing the Head of Performance role. It does beg the question then, for how long have we been without someone? And who has been covering the responsibilities of that role?

See also, assistant manager. Maybe the lead analyst too.

It's almost like the football side of the club hasn't been run in line with one aiming to be top 30.

 

[BillyTurleys CurlyWurly]

If Routledge left in early December at the latest, then that's quite a few games we've had without someone doing the Head of Performance role. It does beg the question then, for how long have we been without someone? And who has been covering the responsibilities of that role?

See also, assistant manager. Maybe the lead analyst too.

It's almost like the football side of the club hasn't been run in line with one aiming to be top 30.

Academy staff have been stepping up and covering whilst there have been gaps in staff.

 

[Bornyellow]

Slightly off topic but does anybody know if the assistant manager role might still be up in the air? Not heard anything concrete from Des and really wouldn’t be surprised to see it revisited in the summer.

 

[MJB]

Slightly off topic but does anybody know if the assistant manager role might still be up in the air? Not heard anything concrete from Des and really wouldn’t be surprised to see it revisited in the summer.

Des basically said it will be looked at again in the Summer.

 

[Bornyellow]

Des basically said it will be looked at again in the Summer.

Oh I must have missed that, thanks.

 

[MJB]

Oh I must have missed that, thanks.

From memory it was on the Dub when Des was having to clear up Williams’ New Years mess.

 

[Joey]

Oh I must have missed that, thanks.

It wouldn't have been mentioned by the club because it's not positive news, Des let it slip in an interview. I posted this in January and had mentioned before that we were waiting on a new staff member.

He certainly hasn't been. Manning had Hogg as a trusted right hand man, we spent months chasing people, offering them pay cuts and getting turned down before just sort-of-but-not-really giving it to Hackett. The way it was announced was a giveaway that it wasn't our first choice and we were about 10 games into Des' reign by then.

Another member of the backroom staff also left around the time Des came in but he still appears on the website and I've seen no notification that he's gone. I suspect when the new guy is in next week we'll see a "he replaces x with immediate effect, we thank x for his services" message from the club as if he's been here the whole time and we've not been another man down while Des is trying to fill those roles and manage the team. I've not seen much of a plan on the pitch under him but he's been stitched up by a board who are either absent or not up to it.

It's why I've held back from being too critical of Buckingham. He's been completely and utterly stitched up off the pitch and I don't think people realise how much impact it has had. The assistant manager situation is absolutely ridiculous, such a basic need especially with him coming from India that we completely and avoidably messed up before shrugging out shoulders, giving up and sort of suggesting to fans that it was Hackett without using those exact words so there was some wiggle room when everyone says what a bad idea it is. Just terrific leadership all round.

Still, good luck to Taylor and I hope he'll make a difference. Anything that reduces the amount of injuries and relapses we have is only a plus.

 

[chromeyellow]

Great interview on yellow player.

Marston lad. His brother sits in the North Stand. His dad on the 18 yard line.

 

[Bornyellow]

It wouldn't have been mentioned by the club because it's not positive news, Des let it slip in an interview. I posted this in January and had mentioned before that we were waiting on a new staff member.

It's why I've held back from being too critical of Buckingham. He's been completely and utterly stitched up off the pitch and I don't think people realise how much impact it has had. The assistant manager situation is absolutely ridiculous, such a basic need especially with him coming from India that we completely and avoidably messed up before shrugging out shoulders, giving up and sort of suggesting to fans that it was Hackett without using those exact words so there was some wiggle room when everyone says what a bad idea it is. Just terrific leadership all round.

Still, good luck to Taylor and I hope he'll make a difference. Anything that reduces the amount of injuries and relapses we have is only a plus.

Terrible from Grant/Tim but no surprise there, hopefully a few get stuck into them at the upcoming fans forum. If you want Des to have any chance you need to at least give him a proper support structure.

 

[gingerox]

Has the analyst who was coming in from Arsenal officially started yet? Seems like quite a while ago since he started working his notice period

 

[Joey]

Has the analyst who was coming in from Arsenal officially started yet? Seems like quite a while ago since he started working his notice period

To be fair he's actually been in for quite a while I believe.

 

[Foley]

Luke Taylor sounds to be a good appointment.
The club certainly seem to be taking a very different approach to players coming back from injury now.

 

[MustardYellow]

Am I the only one who has no idea what 'head of athletic performance' actually means/entails?!?

 

[LeftSideLarry]

Listen

Am I the only one who has no idea what 'head of athletic performance' actually means/entails?!?

Listen to the iFollow interview where he explains it.

 

[chuckbert]

Am I the only one who has no idea what 'head of athletic performance' actually means/entails?!?

#gregleigh