Wilder plans shake-up

8:00am Wednesday 31st December 2008

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New manager Chris Wilder admits his Oxford United squad needs a shake-up in the January transfer window.

And one of the first things he needs to address is the lack of numbers which left him effectively having to put three youth-team players on the bench for the last game – and which he may have to do again against Salisbury.

There is speculation that he may allow on-loan striker Jamie Guy go back to Colchester.

Wilder did not want to comment on this, but said Guy would be involved against Salisbury and could even start, because Yemi Odubade has a minor knee injury which was needing treatment.

Wilder added that the incoming transfers could happen soon.

He said: “We are working very hard and after January 3, I expect to have three new faces in. There is even a slim possibility of having one in for Thursday.”

Wilder, who has only been in the job for ten days, says he has been working non-stop to see who he can get.

“I think the chairman came back from Australia on Sunday and he'll be quite shocked at my phone bill," he mused.

“It does need a shake-up. When any new manager comes into a football club, he wants to bring his own people in. And obviously there'll be departures as well.”

Former boss Darren Patterson gambled by putting all his eggs in one basket with some big-money players from Football League clubs, but when injuries and suspensions hit, there was often a lack of numbers.

Wilder admits he has been surprised that a club like United have so few players.

He told the Oxford Mail: “One of the first things I had to deal with when I came into the club was the lack of numbers.

“With Barry Quinn and Sam Deering out, and some other injuries, we're really down to the bare bones.

“It's been one thing that I've looked at, and it was something I couldn't get my head around really – the size and balance of the squad.

“That's something I will try and change, and try to strengthen, because when you look at the back of the programme and the opposition have got nearly double the amount of players that Oxford United have got, that can't be right.”

Wilder brought on teenagers Alex Fisher, Matt Taylor and Richard Groves in the last few minutes against Ebbsfleet, and was delighted to see Fisher get on the scoresheet in the 5-1 win.

But having so many youngsters on the bench isn't ideal, especially when the U's come up against some of the strongest sides.

“The kids did brilliantly when they came on. They're enthusiastic, their eyes lit up when they stepped onto the pitch and hopefully they'll play a part in the future,” he said.

“But we need a few more bodies and better balance in the squad.”