Coach Departs After Relegation
Oxford United Parts Ways With Matt Bloomfield Following Championship Relegation to League One
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Key Points
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Oxford’s relegation was effectively confirmed with “two games remaining” after Bloomfield’s side suffered a drop back to League One.
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Article reports linked the coaching change to boardroom instability: chairman Grant Ferguson stepped down in May and was replaced by Dusan Bogdanovic, with the article adding that his communication has been “minimal” and it was unclear whether the decision was his or the board’s.
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Bloomfield’s appointment and departure timelines were detailed: he was appointed on January 9, 2026, and the club’s announcement of his exit was communicated on June 20, 2026.
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Beyond the results, one article highlighted Bloomfield’s prior experience, saying he had overseen “more than 150 matches” in EFL roles and referencing earlier management stints at Colchester United and Wycombe Wanderers.
Oxford United parted ways with head coach Matt Bloomfield on June 20, 2026, ending a 162-day tenure that began with a relegation battle and ended with the club dropping back to League One ca.sports.yahoo.com. Bloomfield, who took charge on January 9, replaced Gary Rowett but could not keep Oxford in the EFL Championship, with the drop confirmed two games before the season ended.
Oxford said it will begin the search for a new men's first-team head coach "immediately" uk.headtopics.com. The club thanked Bloomfield for his "professionalism and integrity" but said a change was needed as it prepares for life in the third tier.
Bloomfield Could Not Stop the Slide Down
Bloomfield arrived in January with Oxford sitting deep in the Championship relegation zone wdcnews6.com. He brought a higher-pressing, more possession-based style. Results improved in patches. But the squad, built under Gary Rowett's more defensive system, struggled to adapt fast enough.
Relegation was confirmed with two games still to play, leaving Oxford 23rd in the table and three points from safety wdcnews6.com. Despite some better late-season displays, the points never came in enough numbers. After just one season in the Championship, the club was heading straight back down.
A Boardroom Shake-Up Sealed Bloomfield's Fate
The timing of this decision raised eyebrows. The season ended weeks ago, yet the announcement came on June 20. Analyst Justin Peach noted: "The delay suggests a vacuum of power at the top between Ferguson leaving and Bogdanovic taking full control."
Chairman Grant Ferguson, who backed the structure that brought Bloomfield in, stepped down in May. Dusan Bogdanovic replaced him on May 15 au.sports.yahoo.com. Since then, Bogdanovic's communication has been described as "minimal," and it remains unclear whether the call to sack Bloomfield was his alone or a collective board decision.
Bloomfield's Record and What He Leaves Behind
Bloomfield is a well-known EFL figure. He has overseen more than 150 matches as a manager, with previous roles at Wycombe Wanderers and Colchester United ca.headtopics.com. At Wycombe, he built a reputation for getting results with limited budgets. At Oxford, he had six months and a squad not built for his style.
The club has not released a personal statement from Bloomfield. Oxford's board said it felt a change was "necessary to ensure we have the best possible chance of an immediate return to the Championship." The new coach will inherit a squad in need of reshaping and a wage bill that must be cut to fit League One rules.
Oxford Faces a Costly Summer Reset in League One
Dropping from the Championship to League One is expensive. Standard EFL distribution models suggest Oxford could lose between £5 million and £8 million in annual revenue from TV rights and prize money alone. Gate receipts will also fall. The club will need to trim its wage bill to comply with League One's salary rules.
The new head coach will get a full summer to shape the squad, which is seen as a key reason for making the change now rather than later ca.sports.yahoo.com. Oxford will likely target a manager with a proven track record of winning promotion from League One. The first big test for new chairman Bogdanovic will be getting that decision right.
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