While the U’s gave their talented local youngsters an opportunity to shine, now the planning and hard work is under way for the new WSL 2 season, starting in September.
The U’s will go into the season with the biggest playing budget they have ever had since obtaining WSL status.
Ruth Senior, Oxford United Women’s General Manager, said “We put a proposal to the board for a top-six finish and they were in full support of the investment. The club has also heavily invested in some off-pitch developments which we hope to announce over the next couple of weeks. It’s a really exciting time for Oxford United Women.”
The playing budget will allow Oxford to bring in a few new faces to try and push on from the tremendous progress they have made over the last few years.
Manager Andy Cook told oxfordunitedwfc.co.uk:
“The first thing we have done since we finished was to sit down with each player and speak with them about how they felt the season has gone and to outline our plans for next season. We’ve worked quickly, the Doncaster game was on the Sunday and the meetings started at 10am on the Monday. .
“Since day one I have had a list of players we are tracking as a club and we are now looking to bring these players in. The board has approved the investment to bring in the quality we would like; the current players know this and are excited to be challenged on the training ground next season.
“Oxford has invested in a full time structure with myself and Ruth in place on the management side of things. We are looking to increase our contact and training time to make sure each player will be making the most of dual careers through either working or education and training. We also have an exciting new partnership with Oxford Brookes who are supporting us with this side.
“Our aim is to finish in the top six, no one will give us a chance but I like that! Since I have come in, we have begun to change the culture and understanding of what is required and what it means to be a player for Oxford United Women.
“If we can get this right from the top, which I believe we now have the resources to do, this will start to filter down and over time help the talent pathway in Oxford to provide us with the very best players and people for the first team.”
