Next Oxford United manager odds: How likely is John Terry to secure U’s hotseat?

Oxford United sacked manager Des Buckingham earlier this week, after a run of one win in 16 games left the U's teetering just one point above the relegation zone. 

Now, with the club surely devoid of any Championship promotion hopes as well as fearing relegation, they are searching for a new manager to steer them towards Championship safety.

Interestingly, former England and Chelsea captain John Terry has emerged as a contender for the role, and bookies have him priced at 10/3 to get it.

However, it seems Oxford may already have found their man, in the form of Gary Rowett.

Previously manager of Derby County and Millwall, Rowett is the runaway favourite to make a return to management with Oxford, having most recently been the boss at Birmingham City.

Stranger things have happened though, so we're taking a more in-depth look at why Rowett is so heavily favoured.

Current frontrunners

Selections to watch

Gary Rowett – 1/5

Hired in an interim capacity to help Birmingham City avoid relegation to League One, Rowett was unable to save the Blues from the drop during a spell which lasted only eight games.

Rowett's longest spell as a manager came when he was in charge of Millwall. He presided over 196 games with the club, averaging 1.45 points per game in a spell which lasted almost exactly four years.

Having also reached more than 100 games in charge with Birmingham and Burton Albion, Rowett has a proven track record at Championship and lower EFL level, and this provides a lot of justification for the bookies' current stance.

He has also accrued 218 wins as a manager, during a touchline career which has spanned over 12 years, and so he most certainly possesses the necessary qualifications to take the helm at the Kassam Stadium and drive Oxford back towards mid-table safety.

John Terry – 10/3

Drifting significantly from 11/10 late on Tuesday evening, a more left-field choice for Oxford would be if they were to appoint former England and Chelsea centre-back John Terry for his first ever managerial role.

Terry has never been the head coach of any club, only having ventured into the management realm as Dean Smith's assistant at Aston Villa during the club's dark days in the second tier.

He did his part to help Villa reclaim their place in the Premier League, via their 2019 play-off final promotion, but is yet to taste the highs and lows of becoming the gaffer of an EFL club.

If he was to defy his current odds and take the reins at Oxford, he would face huge relegation six-pointers against Plymouth Argyle and Cardiff City in the coming weeks.

Such high-pressure scenarios right from the off require far more experience than Terry has. Yet, 10/3 is still firmly within the realms of reality, so there may still be a twist in store.

Mark Robins – 20/1

Currently an outside pick for the role is former Coventry City boss Mark Robins.

It seems as if the recently-dismissed manager is being touted for every vacant role that appears in the Championship, as he appears to be shortlisted for nearly every opportunity.

However, nothing firm has appeared for the Englishman thus far, but with 387 games under his belt from a seven-year spell with the Sky Blues, Robins definitely has the necessary knowledge to steady the ship at Oxford.

Having taken Coventry from League Two, all the way to the Championship play-off final in 2023, Robins certainly knows how to turn a team around, and his record of 157 wins with his most recent club is testament to his capabilities.

It is also important to note that Robins managed 1.47 points per game at the club, further elucidating his managerial prowess.

He's a distant third-favourite for a reason though, with his departure from Coventry still perhaps too fresh in the memory.

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