Squad for 2025-2026

[WestYorksRoyal]

Some chap on x @OliB_RFC is claiming all is not well behind the scenes. Reckons RC is not being honest in terms of us having a top 6 budget. He has over 7k followers and has been right about a couple of things.

My expectations are realistic tbh, so I’ll be happy with a top half finish next season. I guess we’ll see how the squad looks come 02/09.

The same one who is claiming Wing and Pereira stayed for the love of the club but are only being paid a bag of chips? It's been funny to
watch him try and square the circle between our lack of ambition and the O'Connor signing.

[Crusader Royal]

Some chap on x @OliB_RFC is claiming all is not well behind the scenes. Reckons RC is not being honest in terms of us having a top 6 budget. He has over 7k followers and has been right about a couple of things.

My expectations are realistic tbh, so I’ll be happy with a top half finish next season. I guess we’ll see how the squad looks come 02/09.

Not really sure what a ‘top 6’ budget means . Is it one of the 6 biggest budgets in the division ?
We finished a whisker off 6th last year without chucking the cash around.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

Some chap on x @OliB_RFC is claiming all is not well behind the scenes. Reckons RC is not being honest in terms of us having a top 6 budget. He has over 7k followers and has been right about a couple of things.

My expectations are realistic tbh, so I’ll be happy with a top half finish next season. I guess we’ll see how the squad looks come 02/09.

Not really sure what a ‘top 6’ budget means . Is it one of the 6 biggest budgets in the division ?
We finished a whisker off 6th last year without chucking the cash around.

Our Outgoings were £1M a month which is why things went unpaid....

We had a big budget for L1 last year...

We just couldn't afford it...

[Chameleon]

In all credit to him - he said 1 senior player has accepted a contract which would be announced today, which has happened.

He's made a few testable claims to keep an eye on - Wifi and Wareham to other L1 clubs (which would set off major alarm bells for me), Senga and Akande offered contracts since being released.

FWIW looking through his twitter he seems to start sharing potential ITK news about 10-20 days ago. He just turned 20, and grew up in the area. I'd bet money he knows one of the academy kids offered a new contract and is recycling rumours via that or recycling information from his father who runs an accountancy firm which offers the sort of tax services footballers are in need of.

I'd trust (and prefer!) EPK's rumours over his thought. I don't see why JP, LW, PO'C would sign long contracts for what he's saying they're signing them for given they'd make the same or more over half the time in the Champ - hence why I think his information is coming from junior players offered academy contracts.

[TiagoIlori]

I think it’s simply a case where we’re targeting players that are going to other clubs or yet to make up their minds. Fairly normal for this time of year.

I would like us to target the Savage’s and the Elliott’s though. Prepared to reduce my expectations if we target players slightly younger and just need a year in league one as a trade off.

[Royal_jimmy]

View from a Cambridge STH on Stevens:

"Oh no, not your first choice goalkeeper I hope. Nasty habit of chucking the ball into the back of the net. He's part of the reason we are where we are"

"He's really rubbish, better hope your goalkeepers keep fit".

To be fair he does look average but then hopefully Pereira stays fit! He definitely is no worse than David Button and probably on a lower wage than he was.

[Royal_jimmy]

Some chap on x @OliB_RFC is claiming all is not well behind the scenes. Reckons RC is not being honest in terms of us having a top 6 budget. He has over 7k followers and has been right about a couple of things.

My expectations are realistic tbh, so I’ll be happy with a top half finish next season. I guess we’ll see how the squad looks come 02/09.

Not really sure what a ‘top 6’ budget means . Is it one of the 6 biggest budgets in the division ?
We finished a whisker off 6th last year without chucking the cash around.

Without meaning to be big headed it's hardly tough for us to have a top 6 budget in this division. As long as fans come back and we continue to churn a big money sale every year.

Also I don't think we'll have a weaker squad. Mbengue will be a loss but he had his moments where he was found wanting. Bindon is a huge loss. For me a couple of good centre backs plus a goal scoring forward makes me fairly optimistic we'll do better next season. I'd certainly like a couple of full backs and wingers too but I think we're a playoff contender.

[Royals and Racers]

Wareham off west to Exeter apparently.

[Elm Park Kid]

Unfortunately WiFi might not be staying after all. Bit of a miscommunication. Up in the air that one.

Wareham has gone to Exeter. Craig gone as well.

[tidus_mi2]

Unfortunately WiFi might not be staying after all. Bit of a miscommunication. Up in the air that one.

Wareham has gone to Exeter. Craig gone as well.

How in oxf*rd are we losing out on an academy player to Exeter?

[Stranded]

Unfortunately WiFi might not be staying after all. Bit of a miscommunication. Up in the air that one.

Wareham has gone to Exeter. Craig gone as well.

Well - the summer is getting interesting...

[WestYorksRoyal]

Unfortunately WiFi might not be staying after all. Bit of a miscommunication. Up in the air that one.

Wareham has gone to Exeter. Craig gone as well.

How in oxf*rd are we losing out on an academy player to Exeter?

We view him as a squad player, they offer 1st team football.

[Royal_jimmy]

Some chap on x @OliB_RFC is claiming all is not well behind the scenes. Reckons RC is not being honest in terms of us having a top 6 budget. He has over 7k followers and has been right about a couple of things.

My expectations are realistic tbh, so I’ll be happy with a top half finish next season. I guess we’ll see how the squad looks come 02/09.

Not really sure what a ‘top 6’ budget means . Is it one of the 6 biggest budgets in the division ?
We finished a whisker off 6th last year without chucking the cash around.

Our Outgoings were £1M a month which is why things went unpaid....

We had a big budget for L1 last year...

We just couldn't afford it...

Doesn't that include the academy costs or is that just wages of playing staff?

[Royal_jimmy]

Unfortunately WiFi might not be staying after all. Bit of a miscommunication. Up in the air that one.

Wareham has gone to Exeter. Craig gone as well.

How in oxf*rd are we losing out on an academy player to Exeter?

We view him as a squad player, they offer 1st team football.

Either way it's still disappointing. Wish him the best if he indeed has gone to Exeter.

[tidus_mi2]

We would at least get compensation due to being U24. Not sure how much, typically I believe it's low up front fees with future bonuses and sell on fees.

[WestYorksRoyal]

How in oxf*rd are we losing out on an academy player to Exeter?

We view him as a squad player, they offer 1st team football.

Either way it's still disappointing

Yeh, to lose all 3 is disappointing and really leaves a lot of work to get our squad ready. Craig is the highest potential and the one I'm most disappointment about.

[Stranded]

So if this is accurate

We are now in to pre-season and 16 days away from the first friendly without a single recognised striker definitely staying on for next season.

Appreciate the club has been left in a mess and that improvements may take time but we are getting to the stage where the squad will be so new that the less time they have together before the beginning of August, the slower the start we are going to have. We may even need to get 5 or 6 loanees (more than ideal) in in August to bulk out the squad.

I thought this summer might be tough but it does seem to be getting tougher - one thing is certain, we aren't going to die of boredom this summer.

[Chameleon]

Wareham, Wifi, and Craig all leaving is definitely ringing the alarm bells, especially as it's to similiar/worse teams & if they do leave we'll still need to sign someone to replace them. Bad miss by the recruitment/ownership.

FWIW Wifi was at the ground yesterday - or someone of a similar height with the exact same boots is on the Reading first day back video - Yakou also looks like he's in a background shot.

[tidus_mi2]

Wareham, Wifi, and Craig all leaving is definitely ringing the alarm bells, especially as it's to similiar/worse teams & if they do leave we'll still need to sign someone to replace them. Bad miss by the recruitment/ownership.

Alarm bells seems a bit extreme for me, and at least all will net us some compensation, but the only significant value might be any sell-on agreements.

[Royal_jimmy]

So if this is accurate

We are now in to pre-season and 16 days away from the first friendly without a single recognised striker definitely staying on for next season.

Appreciate the club has been left in a mess and that improvements may take time but we are getting to the stage where the squad will be so new that the less time they have together before the beginning of August, the slower the start we are going to have. We may even need to get 5 or 6 loanees (more than ideal) in in August to bulk out the squad.

I thought this summer might be tough but it does seem to be getting tougher - one thing is certain, we aren't going to die of boredom this summer.

It's certainly not an ideal situation. I wouldn't be surprised if we have some trialists lined up for the friendly at Gillingham but the longer we leave it to make signings we'll be well into the fixture list with the side gelling. Hopefully we'll sign 3-4 players next week. Mind you Redwood are clearly making some tough choices to reduce the playing staff costs at the club. I'm still expecting us to sell Savage too.