Millwall, QPR and Sheffield Wednesday’s Championship rivals sack promotion-winning manager
One of QPR’s Championship relegation rivals parted company with their manager over the weekend
Millwall and QPR’s Championship rivals Oxford United are on the hunt for a new manager after sacking head coach Des Buckingham following a 3-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.
The club were promoted from League One last term as they beat Bolton Wanderers in the third tier play-off final at Wembley. They enjoyed a positive start to the Championship campaign but are without a win in six games following Saturday’s defeat to the Owls. They were beaten 2-0 by QPR in midweek and drew with Millwall at the end of November. The draw with the Lions is their only point since beating Hull City 1-0 on November 5, with defeats to Watford, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United coming afterwards. They have won just once in their last 15 games.
A short club statement read: “Oxford United can confirm that Des Buckingham has left his role as Men’s First Team Head Coach. Des was appointed in November 2023 and led the Club to promotion to the EFL Sky Bet Championship at the end of the 2023/24 season. The Club would like to place on record its thanks to Des for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future. The appointment of a new head coach will be confirmed in due course.”
Buckingham managed 59 games at Oxford, winning 20, drawing 16 and losing 23. Up next for the club is a trip to Elland Road to take on Leeds United while they face Cardiff City, Plymouth Argyle and Millwall over the festive period. The U’s are currently just one point outside the bottom three.
Greg Leigh had put Oxford ahead on Saturday but goals from Jamal Lowe, Djeidi Gassama and Josh Windass turned the game around for the visitors. Reflecting on Saturday’s defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, Buckingham said: “We asked for a response from midweek, in terms of being a lot more creative and attack-minded in that final third and we certainly got that in the first half. The corny saying is that goals change games and we had some big moments, after getting that first goal, to extend that lead.
“We had two or three good moments to make it two, and what we’re finding this year is that if you don’t take those chances, the opposition will. We have to work extremely hard to create so we have to finish. It’s a disappointing result. I’m happy with the reaction first half but I was disappointed with how the second half played out.”