Oxford reject Blackpool’s request to speak with head coach

Blackpool Football Club’s request to speak with Oxford United head coach Karl Robinson has been rejected. Earlier this month, Blackwood made an approach to Oxford United for head coach Karl Robinson. The club, which has been without a manager since firing Simon Grayson on February 12, is currently in the 14th place in the Sky Bet League One, trailing Oxford by 13 points and six places.

Robinson, who has been the boss at Oxford for almost two years, and has signed a three-year contract with the club in August last year, has previously secured a promotion of Milton Keynes Dons to League One. 

“It does seem as though there has been an official approach, from what everyone is saying, but I haven’t got a clue – no one at the football club has told me anything. I have faith in the board that they will tell me if anything like this happens. It’s not about whether I want to go to Blackpool – it’s more about how successful we want to be here,” Robinson said following Oxford’s 3-0 win over Accrington, during which keeper Simon Eastwood distinguishing himself by putting his goalkeeper gloves to good use to block a looping header from Jordan Clark.

Oxford United, which cemented a new club record for their biggest away win in the Football League in September last year, has been on top of its game. As such, Blackpool’s request came as no surprise to Oxford chairman Sumrith ‘Tiger’ Thanakarnjanasuth. “When a club is doing well there will always be interest in the manager as well as players. That is inevitable and we thank Blackpool for going through the right procedure,” he said. “Everything has been done properly and we wish them well in their search for a new manager.” he said.

“Karl is a central part of what we are building and I hope will be here for many years to come,” continued Thanakarnjanasuth. “The team is playing so well right now and we are chasing down the teams above us. It is going to be such an exciting finish and we look forward to facing the challenge together.”