General The Board & Senior Management

[Northstandboy]

Oxford United Confirms Board and Chair Update | Oxford United Football Club

Oxford United can confirm changes to its Board, with the appointment of two directors and a new Chair.

www.oufc.co.uk

Oxford United Football Club has confirmed changes to its Board, with the appointment of Rudi Laksmana and Dusan Bogdanovic as directors, effective immediately.

As part of the changes, Dusan Bogdanovic has been appointed Chair, succeeding Grant Ferguson, who steps down from the role after four years but will remain on the Board. The Club thanks Grant for his leadership and contribution during a period of significant progress.

The appointments reflect Oxford United’s continued focus on strengthening leadership, governance and long‑term strategy as the Club looks positively to the future.

Following these changes, the Board comprises Anindya Bakrie, Grant Ferguson, Rudi Laksmana, Dusan Bogdanovic (Chair) and Sumrith “Tiger” Thanakarnjanasuth.

Who is Dusan Bogdanovic - New Chairman

​

Dusan Bogdanovic is an international sports executive and football‑industry specialist with extensive experience across club governance, player representation and strategic sports management.

Bogdanovic has built his career in professional football management, having held senior roles with sports agencies and management groups operating across Europe and Asia. He has worked as Head of Sports at Level Up Asia and later as Owner/CEO of Level Up Asia, overseeing football‑related commercial strategy, player pathways and partnerships.

He has also served in executive positions at SB Sport Agency and Playerhunter Indonesia, organisations involved in player representation, talent development and club services, giving him hands‑on experience across recruitment, performance structures and football operations.

Bogdanovic is a multi‑lingual executive educated in business management and sports business, including study at the Sports Business Institute in Barcelona, strengthening his governance, commercial and regulatory expertise within elite sport.

Who is Rudi Laksmana

​

Rudi Laksmana is an Indonesian business executive with extensive experience in media, finance and corporate governance. He is a senior leader within Mahaka Group, a major Indonesian media and investment group of which Erick Thohir is the founder.

He has been involved as a director of Oxford Park Developments Limited, the company connected to Oxford United training ground and infrastructure projects.

 

[Older Shotts]

I had to step out for a couple of hours this afternoon. Have I missed anything..?

Yes, 22 teams got points deductions and we are now in the premier league.

 

[Older Shotts]

Difficult to know exactly what this 'means' in the grand scheme of things, but it doesn't strike me as the actions of an owner preparing to sell.

Fingers crossed for some insight from those wonderful peeps at the Dub in the next couple of days.

At the end of the latest one they said they’d be back with something positive as we deserve it… been wondering what that meant

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

Although this mostly makes sense, one thought I have is does the new chairman need to be cleared by the EFL's owners and directors test before being announced? If so, how long does that take? The changes could have been planned for a while.

Hmm. Feels very rushed to me.

The release on the official website is incredibly brief, there is next to no background for either new appointment, nor any pictures or quotes from them or the departing Ferguson.

I can well imagine that Thohir decided all of this in the last few days and certainly since he has been in the country for the final home game.

It's all very odd, whichever way you dress it up. The sort of impulsive looking change that wouldn't look out of place under the likes of Chansiri at Wednesday.

Very weird.

 

[Emilio]

I wonder if our Head of Recruitments departure is connected in any way?

Certainly a few off field changes happening, no idea if it’s positive or not.

Feels a bit unsettling and I’m not sure why.

Doubt it. Newcastle would have offered the job to him, it's not like we tried to shift him because the new guys wouldn't want him, and Newcastle decided to take him on a whim. Unless you're suggesting he already knew well in advance that this board change was coming and wanted none of it, so wisely applied to a vacancy at Newcastle in what was probably quite a lengthy application and interview process.

 

[uptheus]

I'd say that was an understatement. Increasingly worried that our new, Indonesian-based football agent/Chairman is going to be about as effective as Ole Romeny. Hopefully, I'm proven wrong.

I'd feel a little more relaxed if a highly experienced MD/Director of Football is announced.

My thoughts too!

 

[uptheus]

So, we have Fernindan’s agent as the chairman now.

Oh god!

 

[Emilio]

Back to back promotions, win the League Cup and then… well I can’t remember what happened last time but I imagine it was followed by a few decades of sustainable success.

Apparently it's followed by playing in Europe, though I'll believe it when I see it!

 

[Older Shotts]

Apparently it's followed by playing in Europe, though I'll believe it when I see it!

Too soon, lads, too soon

 

[Emilio]

Why are people suggesting this will also see us appoint a foreign manager?

The last 8 managers to have led teams to League One promotion have been British (I haven't bothered looking further back than the last 3 seasons, so it's likely to be a fair few more), and the same will be the case with whomever wins the playoffs. Just because Erik is bringing in business people he knows from work overseas, doesn't mean he would have any reason to bring in a non-Brit to manage the actual players.

 

[carefreeoufc]

Why are people suggesting this will also see us appoint a foreign manager?

The last 8 managers to have led teams to League One promotion have been British (I haven't bothered looking further back than the last 3 seasons, so it's likely to be a fair few more), and the same will be the case with whomever wins the playoffs. Just because Erik is bringing in business people he knows from work overseas, doesn't mean he would have any reason to bring in people with no understanding of League One in England to manage the actual players.

*Slavisa Jokanovic enters the chat

 

[Marked Ox]

Why are people suggesting this will also see us appoint a foreign manager?

The last 8 managers to have led teams to League One promotion have been British (I haven't bothered looking further back than the last 3 seasons, so it's likely to be a fair few more), and the same will be the case with whomever wins the playoffs. Just because Erik is bringing in business people he knows from work overseas, doesn't mean he would have any reason to bring in people with no understanding of League One in England to manage the actual players.

I think because nobody on here really know what the plans are or what it means with the changes.

 

[Eaststanding]

Hmm. Feels very rushed to me.

The release on the official website is incredibly brief, there is next to no background for either new appointment, nor any pictures or quotes from them or the departing Ferguson.

I can well imagine that Thohir decided all of this in the last few days and certainly since he has been in the country for the final home game.

It's all very odd, whichever way you dress it up. The sort of impulsive looking change that wouldn't look out of place under the likes of Chansiri at Wednesday.

Very weird.

I just don’t see why there’s such negativity because a football clubs board makes a couple of changes, adding experience and probably more than a few quid to the coffers.
What’s so odd, impulsive or rushed about it? And why should there be a lengthy press release about it. We know what we need to know for now, the rest can follow, if we need it.
I think these guys have been around boardrooms long enough to know what they’re doing.

 

[Teacher]

I think the changes would put paid to any notion of Thohir losing interest.

 

[Chris on a Bike]

I'd say that was an understatement. Increasingly worried that our new, Indonesian-based football agent/Chairman is going to be about as effective as Ole Romeny. Hopefully, I'm proven wrong.

I'd feel a little more relaxed if a highly experienced MD/Director of Football is announced.

Increasingly worried? You'd only known about it for 10 minutes when you posted that!

 

[Osei Yaw]

Increasingly worried? You'd only known about it for 10 minutes when you posted that!

Do you ever worry about anything OUFC related or wish for better from the club? Or do you just focus your efforts deriding those that do?

 

[Emilio]

*Slavisa Jokanovic enters the chat

Because he did well in the Championship? Perhaps you're blessed enough to not have noticed we've dropped into League One

 

[carefreeoufc]

Increasingly worried? You'd only known about it for 10 minutes when you posted that!

I started off not worried, in ten minutes I’d seen that he’s either a musician or a mate of Thorhir. My worry increased from not bothered to, I think we’re “going on a journey”.

 

[Emilio]

I just don’t see why there’s such negativity because a football clubs board makes a couple of changes, adding experience and probably more than a few quid to the coffers.
What’s so odd, impulsive or rushed about it? And why should there be a lengthy press release about it. We know what we need to know for now, the rest can follow, if we need it.
I think these guys have been around boardrooms long enough to know what they’re doing.

I doubt that. They're board members, not shareholders (unless that hasn't been announced).

 

[carefreeoufc]

Because he did well in the Championship? Perhaps you're blessed enough to not have noticed we've dropped into League One

We’ll be back up next season, Grant pretty much said so. Top 30 and all that.

 

[trainingcone]

I think the changes would put paid to any notion of Thohir losing interest.

Maybe also in line with potential extra revenue for the stadium construction??

 

[Isle of Wight Yellow]

Doubt it. Newcastle would have offered the job to him, it's not like we tried to shift him because the new guys wouldn't want him, and Newcastle decided to take him on a whim. Unless you're suggesting he already knew well in advance that this board change was coming and wanted none of it, so wisely applied to a vacancy at Newcastle in what was probably quite a lengthy application and interview process.

There’s always someone who comes on here and ruins the fun with calm logic and reasoning.

I personally think he left because he was having an affair with Grant, that’s why the latter has been demoted (this is a joke for legal reasons [not that there’s anything wrong with being gay])

 

[Emilio]

We’ll be back up next season, Grant pretty much said so. Top 30 and all that.

I wonder would we be happy with a Top 30 if it meant perpetually finishing in the only 2 remaining spots outside of the automatic and playoff slots?

 

[Emilio]

There’s always someone who comes on here and ruins the fun with calm logic and reasoning.

I personally think he left because he was having an affair with Grant, that’s why the latter has been demoted (this is a joke for legal reasons [not that there’s anything wrong with being gay])

Think you've got it all wrong. Apparently he brought an inappropriate inflatable doll to a meeting, so he was shipped off to a northern team that play in white and black... or am I getting my rumours mixed up here?

 

[unification]

Why are people suggesting this will also see us appoint a foreign manager?

The last 8 managers to have led teams to League One promotion have been British (I haven't bothered looking further back than the last 3 seasons, so it's likely to be a fair few more), and the same will be the case with whomever wins the playoffs. Just because Erik is bringing in business people he knows from work overseas, doesn't mean he would have any reason to bring in a non-Brit to manage the actual players.

For the last nine seasons, only one League 1 promotion winning manager has been from outside either a home nations country and Republic of Ireland.

Daniel Stendel (Germany) guided Barnsley up in 2018-19. Darren Moore managed Wednesday to promotion in 2022-23. He represented Jamaica internationally but was born in England.

You’re better off having a manager from close to home.

 

[Jaboysmith]

For the last nine seasons, only one League 1 promotion winning manager has been from outside either a home nations country and Republic of Ireland.

Daniel Stendel (Germany) guided Barnsley up in 2018-19. Darren Moore managed Wednesday to promotion in 2022-23. He represented Jamaica internationally but was born in England.

You’re better off having a manager from close to home.

Does it really matter? A good coach is a good coach. No English manager has ever won the Premier League.

 

[Emilio]

S

Daniel Stendel (Germany) guided Barnsley up in 2018-19.

Shhhh, don't let Erik hear you!! Apparently he's looking for any reason to sack every backroom employee, member of coaching staff, and even players, in favour of Indonesian, Dutch, and now even Slavic replacements!

 

[Emilio]

Does it really matter? A good coach is a good coach. No English manager has ever won the Premier League.

Possibly missing the point. We're not doubting the success of foreign managers (though, as stated, League One success over the last decade has almost entirely been British/Irish), but questioning why people are suggesting the addition of these foreign board members should somehow indicate a new foreign managerial appointment too.

That said, I'm still holding out to be Oxford United's first ever Italian manager.

 

[Boris]

Difficult to know exactly what this 'means' in the grand scheme of things, but it doesn't strike me as the actions of an owner preparing to sell.

I think you'll find that Thohir's involvement will start to get progressively less, especially financially

 

[Yellows1]

I think you'll find that Thohir's involvement will start to get progressively less, especially financially

Really, do tell???

 

[Toe knee]

There's no doubt we will get sold one day ,just like
Inter Milan & DC United...
If you have sold a brand new stadium in America, & one of the biggest clubs in Europe/ world, what chance has
Little old Oxford United got ???