Oxford United Sack Manager Gary Rowett

Oxford United have sacked manager Gary Rowett following a 1-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic on Saturday, leaving the club in the relegation zone of the Championship. The 51-year-old was dismissed on Tuesday morning, along with assistant head coach Mark Sale, as the team sits 22nd in the table, two points from safety after winning just four league games this season.

The club confirmed the decision in a statement, noting that the process to appoint a new head coach is already underway. In the interim, Craig Short will lead first-team preparations, assisted by Chris Hackett and Lewis Price. This marks the third time Short has taken caretaker charge at Oxford, having previously stepped in after the departures of Karl Robinson and Liam Manning in 2023.

Rowett was appointed on December 20, 2024, replacing Des Buckingham during a challenging period as Oxford fought to avoid relegation in their first season back in the second tier since 1998-99. He steadied the ship, guiding the team to a 17th-place finish with an unbeaten run in his first six matches and earning the Championship Manager of the Month award for January. The Us finished four points clear of the drop zone, securing their...