A Championship club could be left without a stadium after plans for them to move into a new ground have been delayed.
Oxford United chief executive Tim Williams has shared concerning news that the team could be left homeless with the lease on their current ground, the Kassam Stadium, set to expire in June 2026.
The news come as a concern for The U’s despite their impressive performances this season, which sees them currently in 19th in the Championship following a return to the second tier for the first time in 25 years.
Oxford have submitted plans to Cherwell District Council over building a new 16,000-seater stadium with the Kassam currently able to hold 12,573 spectators.
Speaking to The Dub podcast, he said: ‘There is nothing more important – and I mean literally nothing more important.
‘We don’t have a stadium to be in if this doesn’t work out. I don’t particularly like binary decisions. But this really is that binary.
A Championship club could be left without a stadium after plans for them to move into a new ground have been delayed
The lease on their current ground is set to expire in June 2026
‘We are in a position where we have to move. This actually isn’t now about moving into a stadium that will allow us to generate more revenue. This is about getting into a stadium.
‘Fundamentally, if we don’t have a stadium, we don’t have a football club. It’s appallingly as binary as that.’
Williams added that extending the club’s licence at the Kassam was his favoured option in the short term.
He added that avoiding a groundshare would be his preferred scenario, while pointing out that staying at the Kassam Stadium for a longer period than originally planned would be in the best interests of supporters.
He continued: ‘I think for everybody involved, none more so than fans and supporters, the path of least resistance would be to see if we can stay where we are for the couple of years that we need to.
‘I don’t particularly want to groundshare anywhere, that’s not a particularly good option – that’s an understatement. So, for me, the most attractive option is to stay where we are, assuming that we can.’
Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds claimed last month that the club should be allowed to move stadium to guarantee a new home.
The club are now awaiting a decision from the council, which is not expected to arrive until at least June.
